THE  SPIRIT 
FATHER 


M R s.  M AR Y  Mann 


^ 


.^,#^ 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


*** 


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Presented    by    \   X~(S^3\c:^<2,VA-V    \  ^"Wov^ 


BS  475  .M34  1901 

Mann,  Mary 

The  Spirit  Father 


MKS.  MAUY  MANN'. 


THE 

SPIRIT  FATHER 


BY 


MRS.  MARY   MANN 


t 


CHICAGO: 

M.  A.  DONOHUE  &  CO. 

407-429  Dearbobh  St. 


Copyright  May  3lst,  1901, 

BY 

MRS,  MARY  MANN 


THIS    IS    DEDICATED     TO      MY    BROTHERS     AND    SISTERS 

THROUGHOUT    THE    WORLD. 

AND     TO    THE    GLORY    OF    OUR    HEAVENLY     FATHER 

AND  ELDER  BROTHER. 


PREFACE. 

No  merit  is  claimed  by  the  Author  for  the  writing 
of  this  book,  for  I  believe  that  God  has  simplj''  used 
me  as  his  instrument.  As  the  whole  light  as  here 
revealed  was  given  by  one  night's  revelation,  and  forty 
night's  spiritual  interpretation.  So,  after  much  thought 
and  prayer  over  the  revelation,  I  do  not  believe  God 
gave  it  to  be  kept  a  secret  in  my  own  heart,  but  that 
it  is  God's  will  and  time  to  send  this  light  to  others, 
therefore  I  send  forth  this  book  with  many  prayers, 
hoping  it  will  be  a  blessing  to  many. 

Mrs.  Mary  Mann. 


The  first  betrotten  of  tlic  Father,  Jesus,  our 
Elder  Brother. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGS 

I.  The  Bible  a  Casket  or  Jewels 9 

II.  God  the  Spirit  Father 11 

III.  Adam  and  Eve  in  the  Garden 16 

IV.  The  Father  in  the  Garden 23 

V.  God  Sending  Adam  out  of  the  Garden.    .  28 

VI.  The  Beginning  of  God's  Work  with  the 

Fallen  Man 35 

VII.  Wickedness  of  Man 46 

VIII.  Abram  and  Sarai 54 

IX.  Isaac  and  Rebekah 63 

X.  Joseph 79 

XI.  Moses 89 

XII.  Moses  and  Aaron 98 

XIII.  In  the  Wilderness 108 

XIV.  God  Tells  Moses  to  Build  A  Tabernacle  .  112 
XV.  Moses'  Burden 118 

XVI.  Joshua 123 

XVII.  Gideon 129 

XVIII.  Samson 138 

XIX.  Samuel 145 

XX.  The  Ark 157 

XXI.  Saul 164 

XXII.  David 174 

KXIII.  Solomon 185 

\:XIV.  Job 191 

XXV.  Jonah 200 

XXVI.  The  Father's  Promises  to  His  Obedient 

Children 206 

XXVII.  The  Father  Speaking  to  His  Disobedient 

Children 221 

7 


CONTENl  S— Continued. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

XXVIII.  God  the  F.\ther's  First  Promise  to  Man.     229 

XXIX.     John  the  Baptist 244 

XXX.     Jesus 261- 

XXXI.     Jesus  at  the  Jordan 272 

XXXII.     Jesus  in  the  Wilderness 282 

XXXIII.  Jesus  Begins  His  Work   .    .    . 290 

XXXIV.  Jfisus'  Sermon  on  the  Mount 307 

XXXV.  Jesus  Cometh  Down  from  the  Mount  .    .  327 

XXXVI.  Jesus   Reproveth   the  Scribes,  Pharisees 

and  Hypocrites 342 

XXXVII.      F.\.THER   AND   SON 348 

XXXVIII.     The  Miracles 357 

XXXIX.     Lazarus 365 

XL.     The  Parables 371 

XLI.     Love  of  Father  and  Son 384 

XLII.  Jesus  Prepares  for  the  Passover.    .    .    .     390 

XLIII.     The  Resurrection 403 

XLFV.     Called,  Chosen  and  Sent 413 

XLV.     Once  for  All 421 

XLVI.    Notes  from  the  Author 424 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    BIBLE    A    CA8KET   OF   JEWELS. 

All  jewels  are  generally  locked  up  in  caskets  for 
their  safe  keeping,  and  the  casket  put  in  a  vault  and 
that  locked  also. 

Do  you  think  that  the  key  of  the  casket  that  holds 
the  Crown  Jewels  of  Great  Britain  would  be  put  into 
the  hands  of  an}^  but  trusted  and  tried  servants?  Oh, 
no.  Here  are  a  few  of  the  jewels  in  the  casket  we 
are  going  to  speak  of.  The  Crown  of  Spiritual  Under- 
standing, that  is  one  of  the  grandest  that  can  be 
bestowed  upon  us  on  earth,  to  have  our  understanding 
opened  by  God  through  Christ.  The  Crown  of  Wisdom 
— for  the  understanding  is  of  little  value  if  we  do  not 
have  the  wisdom  to  use  it  right.  The  Crown  of  Knowl- 
edge,— for  if  Ave  do  not  have  a  clear  perception  of 
what  we  understand,  we  will  make  many  mistakes. 
But  when  these  three  are  put  together  they  are  ready 
for  use.  The  crown  of  love, — love  God.  The  Crown 
of  Honor, — honor  God.  The  Crown  of  Glory, — 
glorify  God.  And  the  Crown  of  Everlasting  Spiritual 
Life.  Do  you  think  that  so  many  precious  jewels 
would  be  left  in  a  casket  without  a  key?  No  casket 
of  jewels  in  the  world  was  ever  safer  locked  up;  and 
the  key  will  never  be  given  to  any  unless  it  be  God's 
time  to  open  it,  and  the  key  will  never  be  trusted  to 

9 


10  The  Spirit  Father 

any  but  the  tried  and  true  child  of  God,  and  the  faithful 
to  Christ.  There  will  be  many  trusted  servants  to 
take  care  of  such  a  casket,  but  God  will  choose  his 
own  servants.  He  will  try  their  faithfulness  in  many 
ways  before  trusting  them  with  the  portion  they  are 
to  take  care  of,  for  every  one  will  just  get  the  portion 
to  take  care  of  that  they  are  fitted  for.  I  was  speaking 
of  the  servants  that  were  to  take  care  of  the  jewels. 
All  the  jewels  belong  to  the  Spirit  Father,  and  he  has 
them  to  give  to  every  one  of  his  children,  if  they  wish 
for  them. 

But  we  have  to  find  the  key  to  get  into  the  vault 
first,  and  through  the  vault  to  find  the  jewels.  And 
see  on  what  conditions  our  Father  has  made  his  will. 
First: — The  Old  Testament, — darkness  and  death. 
Then  added  the  New  Testament, — light  and  ever- 
lasting life.  But  the  spirit  must  give  us  the  key  and 
show  us  how  to  use  it,  either  by  revelation  or  spiritual 
interpretation.  All  ought  to  understand  that  much 
of  the  inspired  word  and  teaching  of  the  Bible,  in  both 
the  Old  and  the  New  Testaments  is  given  in  Parables. 
So  many  just  take  the  literal  words  and  never  look 
for  any  meaning.  They  see  nothing  but  the  words 
they  read,  for  they  have  not  the  spirit  light.  And 
there  are  just  enough  of  God's  laws,  commands,  cove- 
nants and  promises  and  his  dealings  with  his  people 
through  all  generations  kept  on  record  to  suit  God's 
own  purposes. 


CHAPTER  II. 

GOD   THE    SPIRIT   FATHER. 

Before  God  created  the  world  as  we  know  it,  he 
had  his  home  and  spirit  family  from  all  ages.  And 
when  he  sends  them  out  of  his  own  home  he  clothes 
them  in  garments  of  some  kind  and  shape.  But  after 
they  went  from  the  father  there  would  grow  amongst 
them  good  and  bad  just  as  they  are  now. 

Disobedience  and  fightings!  There  has  always 
been  war  between  God  and  Satan,  for  good  and  evil 
since  Satan  was  cast  out  of  heaven  ages  ago;  and  before 
the  earth  was  created  as  we  know  it  now.  God  has 
always  put  garments  of  flesh  on  his  spirit  children 
just  as  it  suited  him  and  his  purposes,  for  the  place, 
time  and  age  it  has  been  in.  Just  as  any  human  father 
has  a  right  to  clothe  the  flesh  of  the  child  that  is  born 
to  him.  He  has  a  perfect  right  to  clothe  that  child 
in  any  kind  or  shape  of  garment  that  suits  him.  In 
different  countries  and  nations  there  are  needed  dif- 
ferent kinds  and  shapes  of  garments.  So  the  spirit 
father  has  changed  the  shape  and  kind  of  garments 
he  has  clothed  his  spirit  children  in,  according  to  the 
age,  time  and  places  he  has  put  them  in  to  live  until 
it  came  to  the  time  when  he  said :  "Let  us  make  them 
after  our  own  image,  a  perfect  man.  And  we  will 
create  a  new  world  for  them  to  live  in,  and  if  they  are 

11 


12  The  Spirit  Father 

good  and  obedient  they  will  get  all  they  need,  and  be 
happy,  for  we  will  make  a  beautiful  place  for  them, 
and  put  everything  in  it  they  need."  So  God  began 
to  get  a  part  of  his  domains  ready  for  human  children, 
for  all  the  world  belonged  to  God  as  it  was  then,  void 
and  dark,  just  as  it  belongs  to  him  now  in  all  its  beauty. 
So  God  came  and  began  his  work,  the  creating  of  the 
heaven  and  earth.  In  the  creating  of  the  world  to 
put  our  first  human  parents  in,  God  merely  changed 
the  place  from  what  it  was,  a  place  without  form, 
a  perfect  chaos,  a  mass  of  disorder  and  confusion, 
everything  in  an  unorganized  condition — but  it  was 
perfectly  suited  for  the  benighted  creatures  that  in- 
habited it  at  that  time.  They  were  creatures  in  moral 
darkness  and  without  intellectual  light,  but  still  they 
were  all  God's  creatures  and  God's  word  went  forth 
over  all  that  confusion,  and  all  has  been  changed  into 
a  beautiful  garden,  for  that  is  what  the  world  is, — a 
beautiful  garden  to  those  that  have  eyes  to  see  the 
beauty  and  grandeur  of  the  glorious  handiwork  of 
God. 

The  day  is  coming  when  the  mighty  power  of  God 
the  father  will  transform  the  world  again  (but  in  a 
different  way)  for  his  redeemed  children  to  live  in. 

When  God  finished  his  work  he  looked  upon  all  he 
had  made,  it  all  pleased  him  for  he  said  it  was  all  good. 
Still  the  father  kept  on  beautifying,  for  he  planted  a 
garden  in  the  Eastward,  and  there  he  made  to  grow 
every  tree  that  was  pleasant  to  look  at,  and  all  that 
was  good  for  food.  How  many  good  human  fathers 
are  doing  the  same  for  their  children  to-day? 


God  the  Spirit  Father  13 

They  are  turning  acres  and  acres  of  uncultivated 
land  into  beautiful  homes  and  gardens  for  their  children. 
And  alas!  how  many  of  their  sons  and  daughters  are 
unthankful,  willful  and  disobedient  until  the  father 
has  to  cast  them  out  of  his  home  although  it  brings 
sorrow  and  grief  to  that  father's  heart? 

Could  we  only  understand  the  grief  and  sorrow 
our  disobedience  has  brought  to  our  spirit  father's 
heart..     What  different  children  many  of  us  would  be. 

But  God  said,  let  us  make  man  in  our  own  image 
and  after  our  own  likeness,  and  let  them  have  domain 
over  the  fish  of  the  sea,  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and  over 
all  things  on  earth.  But  he  did  not  say  he  would  give 
them  any  power  over  anything  in  heaven. 

Then  God  the  Father  begins  his  work  in  the  creating 
of  man  after  his  own  image  and  in  his  own  likeness. 
Male  and  female,  created  he  them.  There  then  was 
God's  own  image.  Male  and  female,  tree  and  branch 
but  one  (strength  and  purity).     He  then  formed  man. 

But  if  he  had  not  done  any  more  than  form  the 
man,  that  was  merely  making  the  garment.  If  God 
had  just  left  it  lay  on  the  ground  as  he  had  made  it,  it 
would  only  have  been  a  useless  piece  of  work.  But 
God  finished  his  work  by  breathing  into  him  the  breath 
of  life,  and  he  became  a  living  soul.  This  was  the  first 
spirit  child  of  God's,  put  into  the  first  created  in  his 
own  image  and  likeness,  that  was  to  inhabit  and  look 
after  the  father's  rights.  That  was  the  first  in  his 
mage  as  far  as  Bible  history  takes  us  for  our  enlight- 
ment  and  beyond  that  we  cannot  go,  unless  it  be  God's 
will  and  purpose  to  reveal  it  to  us.     Still,  Adam  was 


14  The  Spirit  Father 

not  quite  finished  for  the  work  he  was  created  for. 
There  was  Adam,  the  root  and  body  of  the  tree,  but  the 
root  or  body  does  not  bear  the  fruit,  it  is  the  branch 
that  bears  the  fruit. 

Then  God  caused  a  deep  sleep  to  fall  on  Adam 
and  took  one  of  his  ribs  and  made  woman,  and  brought 
her  unto  the  man.  And  God  called  their  name  Adam. 
God  called  them  both  by  one  name  (Adam). 

The  sleep  that  was  caused  to  fall  on  Adam  symbolizes 
a  tree  when  it  is  first  planted  and  the  time  it  takes 
before  the  branches  will  grow  out  of  the  side  of  the 
tree  to  bear  fruit;  then  again,  it  symbolizes  a  child 
when  it  is  born  into  the  world,  the  time  it  takes  the 
natural  child  to  grow  before  it  can  bring  forth  spiritual 
fruit.  And  again,  it  symbolizes  the  spiritual  seed 
planted  in  the  bosom  of  nature  and  the  time  it  lies 
dormant  before  it  quickens.  And  when  Adam  saw 
her,  he  said:  "This  is  now  bone  of  my  bone,  and  flesh 
of  my  flesh,  but  he  did  not  say  spirit  of  spirit.  But  said, 
therefore  shall  a  man  leave  his  father  and  mother  and 
cleave  unto  his  wife.  And  they  shall  be  one  flesh. 
There  stood  our  first  human  parents,  from  the  hand 
of  their  God  and  Father, — in  all  their  virgin  purity 
and  power, — in  his  own  image. 

Now  let  us  ask  ourselves  wherein  consists  Adam's 
image  to  God?  If  he  was,  as  we  believe,  the  first 
human  parent  of  the  human  race,  we  ought  to  try 
and  know  something  about  him,  for  it  is  just  in  under- 
standing the  lesson  we  have  recorded  in  the  Bible  on 
Adam,  that  opens  up  to  all  future  generations  the 


God  the  Spirit  Father  15 

true  light  on  the  working  out  of  God's  plan  for  the 
redemption  of  the  human  race. 

Adam's  image  to  God  was  not  because  he  had  two 
feet  to  walk  on,  or  two  hands  to  feed  or  dress  himself 
with,  as  many  in  the  world  think — if  they  ever  take 
time  to  think  of  anything  but  the  care  and  desires 
of  their  own  flesh. 

Adam's  image  to  God  was  in  his  being  capable 
of  receiving  human  and  divine  wisdom,  divine  under- 
standing, and  divine  knowledge,  and  capable  of  becom- 
ing a  spiritualized  being  in  his  human  form,  if  he  had 
obeyed  the  command  of  his  father.  How  long  he  kept 
his  purity  and  power  we  are  not  told,  but  he  was  capa- 
ble of  knowing  good  from  evil,  he  chose  the  evil,  and 
became  a  fallen  natural  or  animal  man  again. 

Now  we  have  only  to  follow  the  history  of  Adam 
to  the  fifth  chapter  of  Genesis  and  the  third  verse  to 
find  the  key  that  opens  the  whole  Bible  teachings. 

If  you  can  read  that  with  your  spiritual  understand- 
ing opened,  or  from  spiritual  interpretation  then  you 
must  trace  God's  plan  and  work  with  the  natural  man 
through  all  the  dark  ages,  until  we  come  to  the  fulfill- 
ment of  the  new  covenant  in  the  sending  of  Christ 
the  first  fruits  of  the  resurrection  of  the  spiritual  man. 
And  from  that  age  to  this  God  deals  with  the  spiritual 
man.  Christ  stands  between  the  natural  man  and 
God,  but  the  holy  spirit  between  the  spiritual  man 
and  God. 


CHAPTER  III. 

ADAM  AND  EVE  IN  THE  GARDEN. 

The  man  was  then  put  into  the  garden  to  dress  and 
keep  it.  He  was  to  care  for  and  look  after  what  his 
father  was  going  to  put  under  his  care.  His  father 
told  him  he  might  eat  of  every  tree  in  the  garden  with 
the  exception  of  one  tree.  The  father  had  reserved 
that  for  himself  and  his  own  use. 

The  tree  of  knowledge,  of  good  and  evil  (tne  man 
tree)  that  should  he  eat  of  it  he  would  surely  die. 

But  the  evil  one  got  in  there,  the  old  Satan,  in  all 
his  subtility. 

Many  wonder  how  Satan  got  there.  Satan  and  all 
his  creatures  were  there  before  God  prepared  the  earth 
for  his  human  creatures.  Wherever  there  is  purity 
there  you  will  find  Satan,  ever  read}'  for  his  work. 
So  that  was  the  very  tree  he  was  determined  to  have 
them  eat  of  because  God  had  commanded  them  not  to. 

So  Satan  goes  to  the  woman  in  all  his  beguiling 
and  fascinating  vileness  and  begins  to  talk  to  her  in 
his  sly,  cunning  way.  The  same  old  Satan  then  is 
the  same  old  Satan  of  to-day. 

We  can  see  him  coming  to  the  woman  asking  about 
the  trees,  and  talking  about  one  tree  and  another  till 
he  comes  to  the  one  he  went  there  to  talk  about.  Then 
he  says,  "Did  God  say  you  were  not  to  eat  of  every 

16 


Adam  and  Eve  in  the  Garden  17 

tree  in  the  garden?"  The  woman  said,  "Yea,  we  can 
eat  of  every  tree  but  one,  and  that  one  we  are  not  to 
eat  of  nor  touch." 

But  Satan  says,  "Why,  that  is  the  very  best  tree 
there  is,  and  if  you  only  take  a  taste  of  it  once  God 
might  never  know,  and  it  will  make  you  both  wise, 
your  eyes  will  be  opened." 

What  a  pleasant  and  beautiful  tree  it  is  too  look 
at  and  much  to  be  desired.  Oh,  Satan  knew  how  to 
speak  to  the  woman  then,  and  he  is  speaking  the  same 
words  to  them  now.  Is  there  anything  in  the  world 
that  a  woman  likes  to  look  upon  more  than  a  beautiful, 
well  formed,  well  developed,  good  man,  and  even  if 
he  is  a  bad  man  we  cannot  help  admiring  the  man, 
although  we  cannot  admire  his  life. 

But  in  the  man  tree  alone  can  we  find  all  the  attri- 
butes that  was  in  the  tree  of  knowledge, — good  and 
evil, — and  that  was  the  tree  Satan  was  determined 
to  get  out  of  the  hands  of  God  and  into  his  own  power 
again.  For  if  the  man  and  the  woman  did  not  know 
what  use  God  was  going  to  make  of  them  Satan  knew 
it  well. 

They  were  to  subdue  and  conquer  all  evil  and  be 
fruitful  and  multiply;  and  replenish  the  earth  with 
good.  That  was  God  their  Father's  command  to 
them  when  he  left  them  there  in  their  purity.  But 
Satan  never  leaves  his  work  unfinished  if  it  is  in  his 
power  to  finish  it.  She  listened  to  his  persuading 
voice  and  evil  power  until  she  went  to  the  tree  took 
of  the  fruit,  and  her  husband  ate  with  her. 

Their  eyes  were  opened  and  they  knew  they  had 


18  The  Spirit  Father 

sinned  and  their  purity  gone.  They  were  afraid  and 
tried  to  hide  from  God,  but  they  soon  found  they  could 
not  hide  from  the  presence  of  God. 

No  hiding  of  evil  from  God  then,  nor  no  hiding  of 
evil  from  God  now. 

Adam's  father  had  been  good  to  him.  He  had  made 
him  a  perfect  man,  pure  and  good,  and  gave  him  a 
helpmate,  and  had  provided  everything  for  him  that 
he  needed.  A  beautiful  place  to  live  in,  and  had  given 
him  power  over  everything  on  earth,  even  over  Satan 
had  he  power,  if  he  had  wished  to  hold  it.  Nothing 
was  withheld  from  him  but  the  one  tree  that  God 
reserved  and  required  for  his  own  use. 

What  was  the  use  God  was  going  to  make  of  this 
tree? 

God,  himself,  the  tree  of  life,  and  man,  the  human 
tree,  are  inseparable,  the  one  requires  the  other. 

God,  the  spirit  father,  was  going  to  people  the  earth 
with  his  spirit  family  in  human  form,  and  he  required 
the  fruit  of  the  tree,  and  the  fruit  grows  on  the  branch, 
that  was  the  woman.  And  from  the  fruit  of  the  womb  the 
garment  to  cover  the  spiritual  child  was  to  be  taken. 
For  the  flesh  on  us  is  only  the  garment  God  requires 
to  hold  the  spirit. 

But  the  fruit  of  the  womb  was  to  grow  by  the  power 
of  the  word  of  God,  not  by  any  co-operation  of  man. 

It  was  the  Devil  instituted  that  act  (not  God)  and 
that  one  act  brought  man  down  from  the  image  of 
God,  his  spirit  father  and  maker,  to  the  level  of  the 
beast. 

That  was  where  Christ  found  man  when  he  begun 


Adam  and  Eve  in  the  Garden  19 

his  work  for  the  uplifting  of  the  fallen  human  race, 
and  to  lead  them  back  to  the  purity  that  God  made 
them  in. 

Now,  if  we  believe  God  created  Adam  the  first  of 
the  human  race  without  the  seed  of  man.  And  that 
Christ  was  conceived  in  the  virgin  womb  by  the  power 
of  God's  word,  as  all  Christians  are  supposed  to  believe, 
could  he  not  by  the  word  of  his  power  have  brought 
forth  all  the  human  garments  he  would  require  for  the 
clothing  of  his  spirit  family  under  the  human  race, 
without  the  man  he  had  created  falling  again  to  the 
brutish,  bestial,  savage  state  that  he  was  Ufting  them 
from. 

We  say  he  could  have  brought  forth  all  the  garments 
he  would  require. 

The  man  or  woman  who  says  that  God  ever  created 
human  man  for  the  use  he  put  himself  to  is  a  blasphemer 
against  God,  for  he  is  attributing  to  God  what  is  con- 
trary to  God's  holy  nature. 

When  God  reserved  the  human  tree  and  the  seed 
of  the  tree  for  his  own  use  and  purpose  when  he  created 
man,  he  reserved  it  for  his  own  use  for  all  generations, 
as  long  as  the  world  lasts.  He  requires  it  to-day 
for  the  same  use  and  purpose  he  did  then — to  clothe 
the  spirit  child. 

God  cannot  send  one  of  his  children  into  this  world 
until  he  first  prepares  the  garment.  Man  or  woman 
may  destroy  the  seed  but  only  the  word  of  God  can 
make  it  grow. 

And  where  will  we  find  the  devil  and  his  followers 


20  The  Spirit  Father 

busier  at  any  work  in  the  world  in  this  age  than  in  the 
destruction  of  the  human  seed. 

I  do  not  believe  that  any  man  or  woman,  if  they 
really  understood  what  they  were  doing,  would  ever 
lift  a  hand  to  destroy  one  human  seed,  either  before 
it  was  planted  or  after  it  had  taken  root  and  tens  of 
thousands  even  after  it  had  received  the  spirit  life. 
This  is  sin,  crime,  and  murder.  Onan  destroyed  one 
seed  only  and  God  slew  him,  because  Onan  knew  what 
he  was  doing,  he  had  human  sense.  That  was  to  be 
a  warning  to  all  generations. 

Let  us  look  back  thirty  or  forty  years  ago,  and  the 
man  or  woman,  let  him  be  a  physician  or  any  one  else, 
if  the  crime  was  known  they  were  accounted  worthy 
of  penal  punishment. 

The  sin  and  crime  was  punishable  by  death  from 
the  hand  of  God  in  Onan's  generation,  and  up  till  less 
than  thirty  years  ago  was  accounted  worthy  of  severe 
punishment  by  the  laws  of  our  country.  What  has 
changed  the  sin,  crime  and  murder  in  these  days  or 
this  age,  that  the  wholesale  slaughter  of  the  human 
seed  and  fruit  goes  on  as  it  does.  Do  people  think 
because  the  laws  of  the  country  have  relaxed  or  because 
God  does  not  strike  each  one  on  the  spot  as  he  did 
Onan,  that  the  sin  or  crime  will  go  unpunished?  Oh, 
no,  God's  hand  is  only  withheld  now  for  his  own  purpose 
but  when  his  time  comes  the  punishment  will  be  sure. 
All  else  in  the  world  that  is  good  for  man  or  woman 
God  has  freely  given  us,  and  whatsoever  is  our  own 
we  may  give  aiwa}''  or  destroy  as  we  please,  but  not 
what  God  has  reserved  for  himself  and  his  own  use. 


Adam  and  Eve  in  the  Garden  21 

But  that  is  the  one  tree  the  devil  is  determined  to 
destroy,  for  since  he  first  got  possession  of  the  flesh 
of  Adam  and  Eve,  our  first  parents,  he  has  held  posses- 
sion and  sway  over  all  flesh  and  will,  till  the  end  of 
the  age,  except  those  that  have  been,  and  will  be 
redeemed  through  obedience  and  faith  in  God. 

God  is  the  father  of  the  spirit  child,  but  not  of  the 
human  flesh  unless  they  are  redeemed,  then,  we  belong 
to  God  our  Father, — spirit,  soul,  and  body.  We  do 
not  know  how  long  Adam  lived  in  the  pure  state  that 
God  left  him  in,  but  we  can  imagine  the  grief  and 
sorrow  of  that  loving  father's  heart  when  he  saw  the 
shameful  downfall  of  his  first  son,  created  in  his  own 
image  and  purity,  and  pure  he  was  to  remain. 

God  did  not  need  him  to  fall  from  his  purity  to 
help  him  in  his  work.  God  made  and  created  all  things 
by  the  word  of  his  power,  and  he  needed  no  co-opera- 
tion or  help  from  Adam  to  make  the  fruit  grow  on 
the  branch  of  the  human  tree  that  was  in  the  virgin 
womb  of  Eve. 

The  fruit  was  to  grow  there  by  the  power  of  God's 
word.  Just  as  the  flesh  of  Jesus  was  conceived  in  the 
womb  of  Mary  by  the  power  of  God's  w^ord  so  was  all 
the  human  fruit  to  grow  if  man  had  not  fallen. 

How"  many  garments  he  would  have  produced  at 
once  no  one  can  know.  But  it  is  quite  a  common 
thing  to  hear  of  two  (twins)  or  three,  and  we  have 
heard  of  five  and  six. 

And  when  that  happens  people  say:  "What  a 
wonder,  and  how  ever  could  such  a  thing  happen?" 
God  only  does  those  things  once  in  a  while,  to  let 


22  The  Spirit  Father 

people  see  the  wonderful  power  of  God,  if  they  could 
only  understand  it  and  because  he  needed  all  those 
garments  at  once. 

Even  although  he  only  left  his  spirit  child  in  this 
world  a  few  hours  or  a  few  moments  after  its  human 
birth,  it  had  answered  the  spirit  father's  purpose  to 
send  his  child  into  this  world  and  take  it  back  to  him- 
self before  its  purity  was  soiled  with  even  one  hour 
in  this  world. 

And  has  the  spirit  father  not  as  good  a  right  to  call 
his  child  home  at  any  hour  or  at  any  age  if  he  wishes 
it  as  our  human  father  has? 

If  a  human  father  has  a  son  or  daughter  away  from 
home  in  any  part  of  the  world  and  wishes  them  to 
come  home,  he  surely  has  a  perfect  right  to  send  them 
word  to  come,  and  he  has  a  right  to  expect  them  to 
do  so.  Then  the  spirit  father  has  the  same  right  over 
his  children,  and  when  the  spirit  child  is  called  home 
by  its  father,  what  good  is  your  child  to  you?  Only 
the  empty  garment,  useless,  and  has  to  be  buried  out 
of  your  sight,  for  in  a  few  days  it  would  be  only  a  piece 
of  corruption. 

But  it  will  spring  up  again  by  the  power  of  the  word 
of  God,  at  the  resurrection  day;  for  the  seed  is  in  the 
body. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  FATHER  IN  THE  GARDEN. 

Adam  and  Eve  sewed  leaves  together  and  made 
aprons  and  put  them  on  thinking  to  hide  their  sin 
and  nakedness,  for  they  saw  themselves  as  they  were, 
stripped  of  their  innocence  and  purity. 

0,  how  many  are  wearing  aprons  and  calling  them 
the  emblem  of  innocence,  when  they  are  the  emblem 
of  fallen  man  trying  to  hide  his  sin.  May  all  men's 
eyes  be  opened  as  Adam's  were.  Then  God  asked 
Adam  who  told  him  he  was  naked.  Have  you  eaten 
of  the  tree?  I  commanded  thee  not.  Adam  had  his 
excuse  ready,  he  said:  "The  woman  thou  gavest  to 
be  with  me,  she  gave  me  of  the  tree  and  I  did  eat." 

Like  thousands  of  other  men  all  the  wrong  they  do 
has  to  be  laid  on  the  poor  woman.  But  that  did  not 
help  Adam,  nor  will  it  help  any  other  one.  God  will 
hold  every  one  responsible  for  their  own  sin  and  wrong 
doing.  And  when  God  asked  the  woman  what  she 
had  done,  she  said  the  serpent  (Satan)  beguiled  her 
and  she  did  eat,  and  gave  her  husband  to  eat  with 
her.  And  that  is  Satan's  work  from  that  day  to  this, 
deceiving  people  and  telling  them  lies  to  get  them  to 
do  wrong  and  disobey  God.  But  all  three  came  under 
the  wrath  of  God,  and  each  had  their  punishment,  as 
God  saw  fit  to  punish  them.     The  punishment  God 

23 


24  The  Spirit  Father 

put  upon  them  has  never  been  lifted  off  the  human  race. 

God  cursed  the  serpent  and  said  he  should  go  on 
his  belly  all  the  days  of  his  life.  So  he  must  not  have 
crawled  on  his  belly  till  God  put  that  curse  on  him  as  a 
punishment.  Although  God  cursed  Satan,  he  did  not 
curse  the  man  or  woman,  but  he  laid  their  punishment 
upon  them,  and  it  rests  on  man  and  woman  up  through 
all  ages  until  the  present  day.  God  will  never  lift  the 
punishment  off  the  human  race,  for  his  word  had  come 
forth  and  it  will  never  be  recalled. 

But  he  has  opened  up  a  way  and  put  it  into  the 
power  of  every  man  and  woman  to  lift  the  punishment 
off  themselves. 

What  was  the  woman's  punishment?  Unto  woman 
he  said:  "I  will  greatly  multiply  your  sorrow  and 
thy  conception.  In  sorrow  thou  shalt  bring  forth 
children,  and  thy  desire  shall  be  towards  thy  husband, 
and  he  shall  rule  over  thee." 

And  those  words  have  held  true  through  all  genera- 
tions, and  will  be  until  man  and  woman  are  redeemed 
from  the  sin  that  brought  the  punishment.  But  that 
time  will  come,  and  has  come  to  many  now,  for  God, 
through  Christ,  has  opened  a  way  to  lead  men  back 
to  the  purity  that  God  made  man  in. 

What  was  Adam's  punishment? 

He  was  to  have  sorrow  all  his  life,  and  there  is  no 
man  in  the  world,  no  matter  in  what  position  of  life 
he  is  placed,  but  has  sorrow  of  some  kind. 

And  God  said  Adam  should  return  unto  the  ground 
for  out  of  it  he  was  taken.  Now  that  could  not  have 
been  what  the  father  intended  to  be  the  lot  of  his 


The  Father  in  the  Garden  25 

children  for  ihat  was  a  punishment  put  on  them  for 
disobedience. 

Let  us  ask  a  q\iestion,  for  we  have  been  asked  the 
same  question  many  a  time.  When  God  the  Father 
made  Adam  and  Eve  and  left  them  in  the  garden  in 
their  puritj^  and  inno^ience  if  he  had  wanted  them  to 
remain  in  that  state  could  he  not  have  kept  them  in 
the  condition  he  made  them  in  (pure)?  We  answer 
yes,  and  no:  first,  j^es,  if  God  had  wished  to  keep  his 
children  in  bondage;  second,  no,  for  God's  children  are 
all  free. 

When  their  father  placed  them  in  the  garden,  he 
gave  Adam  his  command  and  told  him  what  he  had  a 
right  to  do,  and  what  he  v/anted  him  to  do.  And  that 
is  all  a  father  expects  to  have  to  do  to  an  obedient 
child. 

All  that  our  Heavenly  Father  has  ever  asked  from 
any  of  his  children  is  love  and  obedience,  and  these 
have  to  be  gi^v^en  of  our  own  free  w^ill,  for  God  will 
accept  nothing  from  his  children  that  is  not  given  as 
a  free-will  offering.  For  all  God's  children  are  left 
to  the  freedom  of  their  own  will. 

Is  there  any  human  father  that  would  like  to  have 
to  force  his  children  to  love  and  obey  him.  He  might 
compel  them  to  obey  either  by  punishment  or  by  prom- 
ises, but  no  one  can  compel  a  child  to  love  them,  for  love 
is  a  free-will  gift  from  the  heart. 

And  there  is  nothing  in  the  world  more  beautiful 
to  look  at  than  a  good  father's  love  and  care  for  his 
children,  and  his  children's  love  and  obedience  to  him. 


26  The  Spirit  Father 

But  what  has  won  the  love  of  his  children  to  him 
but  the  father's  love  and  goodness  to  them. 

And  we  feel  perfectly  sure  if  thousands  and  tens  of 
thousands  of  God's  children  that  are  living  without 
love  in  their  heart  to  their  spirit  father,  and  careless 
and  disobedient  to  his  laws  and  commands,  we  believe 
if  they  really  understood  what  God  the  spirit  father 
was  to  them  and  they  to  him,  and  what  the  life  of  the 
spirit  child  within  them  is,  there  are  few  men  and 
women  in  the  world  that  believe  in  an  everlasting 
life  that  would  not  turn  to  that  God  and  Father  with 
their  whole  heart. 

They  would  never  rest  until  they  knew  they  were 
reconciled  to  their  spirit  father,  and  belonged  to  him, 
spirit,  soul  and  body,  for  that  is  what  we  must  be 
before  we  can  be  one  of  the  redeemed. 

Our  flesh,  that  is  the  human  man,  must  be  com- 
pletely taken  out  of  the  hands  of  Satan  and  >sin,  and 
every  one  has  to  do  that  for  themselves  and  uf  their 
own  free  will. 

No  father  can  save  his  son,  he  may  teach  him  and 
show  him  the  way  to  find  salvation,  but  he  cannot 
save  him.  God  our  Father  promised  on  the  very  spot 
where  he  was  putting  the  punishment  on  our  first 
parents  that  from  the  seed  of  the  woman  he  would 
open  up  a  way  for  our  redemption,  and  God  has  kept 
his  promise.  But  it  all  rests  with  every  individual 
self  to  accept  the  way  or  reject  it. 

Your  minister  may  teach  you  the  way,  our  parents 
may  teach  us  the  way,  our  sisters  and  brothers  may 
teach  us  the  way,  and  all  may  pray  for  us  and  many 


The  Father  in  the  Garden  27 

tears  and  sorrows  may  they  have  over  us,  but  none 
of  them  can  save  us.  And,  alas,  too  many  leave  their 
salvation  to  the  prayers  of  their  ministers  and  their 
parents.     But  none  can  save  them. 

Man  sinned  of  his  own  free  will  and  he  must  repent 
and  return  to  the  Father  of  his  own  free  will. 


CHAPTER  V. 

GOD  SEXDIXG  ADAM  OUT  OF  THE  GARDEN, 

Now,  in  the  lessons  recorded  in  the  Bible  for  all 
generations  on  the  sending  forth  of  Adam  from  the 
presence  of  the  Father  and  what  God  placed  between 
himself  and  fallen  man  at  that  time,  still  stands  between 
the  natural  man  and  God. 

The  Cherubim  is  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  the  flaming 
sword  is  the  word  of  God.  And  the  man  going  forth 
with  the  woman  to  live  as  man  and  wife,  but  the 
man  was  driven  forth  from  the  presence  of  God  as  the 
animal  or  natural  man  for  he  had  lost  his  spiritual 
life,  and  therefore  went  forth  to  live  under  the  animal 
or  natural  law.  Satan  had  frustrated  God's  plan  for 
the  human  and  spiritual  race  (at  that  time).  So  man 
and  w^onian  begun  life  together,  still  the  animal  man 
in  human  form,  and  under  the  displeasure  and  punish- 
ment of  God,  but  under  God's  permission  to  propogate 
and  bring  forth  the  human  fruit  under  the  natural 
or  animal  law.  For  God  required  the  fruit  of  the 
womb  to  work  out  his  plan  and  purpose  for  the  human 
race. 

God  promised  for  the  use  he  was  going  to  make  of 
woman  even  in  her  fallen  state  that  she  would  be  saved 
through  child  bearing,  })ut  even  under  the  natural 
law  God  is  the  giver  of  life.     And  the  Father  promised 

28 


God  Sending  Adam  Out  of  the  Garden  29 

on  the  spot  where  he  put  the  punishment  on  man  and 
woman,  that  he  would  open  a  way  to  redeem  them 
again  out  of  the  power  of  Satan  and  bring  them  back 
to  their  spiritual  state. 

They  were  still  spirit  and  flesh  but  had  lost  their 
spiritual  life  and  power.  But  man  retained  his  human 
wisdom  and  understanding  and  was  capable  of  knowing 
good  and  evil,  and  all  work  that  required  human 
knowledge,  for  there  were  many  great  and  wonderful 
things  achieved  by  the  human  man  through  the  old 
Bible  ages.  All  the  great  buildings  and  glory  of 
Solomon  were  all  achieved  by  the  animal  man  in  human 
form.  The  record  of  his  life  in  the  Bible  shows  us 
that  with  all  his  glory,  wisdom  and  understanding 
he  was  still  the  animal  man  with  all  his  wives  and 
concubines,  but  that  life  was^permitted  by  God  under 
the  natural  law,  and  through  all  the  dispensation  of 
the  law  of  Moses,  as  long  as  they  were  true  and  obe- 
dient to  the  God  of  heaven,  but  when  they  turned 
from  the  God  of  heaven  to  serve  the  gods  of  earth, 
then  God  punished  them. 

But  no  spiritual  covenant  was  made  with  man  from 
the  fall  of  man  until  Jesus  arose  from  the  water  of 
Jordan  and  became  the  first  fruits  of  the  resurrection 
of  the  spiritual  man  under  God's  promise,  made  when 
Adam  fell.  And  under  the  new  covenant  or  spiritual 
covenant  to  be  made  with  man,  and  under  spiritual 
command.  Now,  let  us  understand  that  our  God 
and  Father  never  begun  a  work  but  he  is  able  to  accom- 
plish it  to  the  uttermost. 


30  The  Spirit  Father 

It  takes  a  long  time  in  some  cases  to  bring  the  natural 
man  to  see  his  need  of  seeking  after  spiritual  life. 
But  God  is  patient  and  long  suffering  with  his  children, 
and  a  thousand  years  in  God's  sight  is  as  a  moment 
in  ours,  but  God's  plan  will  be  worked  out  in  all  its 
fullness.  For  no  promise  of  God's  has  ever  been 
broken.  Every  day  and  every  year  is  bringing  some 
of  God's  promises  to  their  fulfillment  and  so  it  will 
go  on  until  the  last  one  is  fulfilled,  and  man  stands 
at  the  judgment  seat  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  final 
promise,  there  to  receive  the  final  and  just  sentence. 

But,  oh,  what  will  that  sentence  mean  to  many 
that  are  living  in  willful  disobedience  to  the  spiritual 
law?  Let  us  ask  what  is  the  most  powerful  weapon 
Satan  holds  in  the  world  to-day,  to  keep  man  in  rebel- 
lion to  God  and  in  his  spiritually  blinded  condition? 
The  Bible. 

In  the  hands  of  multitudes  of  spiritually  blinded 
people,  it  is  one  of  the  Devil's  powerful  instruments. 
The  book  that  has  been  reserved  by  God  from  genera- 
tion to  generation  for  the  instructing  and  teaching  of 
the  human  race  as  to  their  past,  present  and  future; 
with  the  laws,  commands  and  promises  of  the  father 
to  both  the  natural  and  spiritual  man. 

Now  let  us  see  how  the  Bible  has  become  Satan's 
power.  The  book  has  and  is  being  torn  to  fragments. 
Every  sect  takes  a  piece  of  it  out  to  suit  them,  then 
preach  and  teach  it,  and  live  it. 

One  finds  there  is  no  God,  another  believes  in 
materialism,  that  man  is  nothing  but  material  organ- 
ism. Another  finds  evolutionism,  another  universalism, 


God  Sending  Adam  Out  of  the  Garden  31 

another  no  eternal  punishment,  another  finds  a  purga- 
tory, a  place  of  cleansing  after  death. 

Another  believes  there  is  a  supreme  being,  another 
that  God  could  do  all  he  wanted  to  do  without  Christ. 
Another  in  one  way  of  baptizing,  some  one  another 
way.  Another  Spiritualism,  another  Christian  Science, 
another  polyganism.  Christian  Science  and  Spiritual- 
ism are  twin  sisters,  and  arise  from  the  powers  of 
Satan  over  the  animal  mind,  that  is,  people  that  no 
spiritual  light  has  entered  the  natural  mind.  The 
spiritual  seed  has  never  been  quickened,  it  is  lying 
sleeping  or  dormant  in  their  nature.  Therefore  they 
are  susceptible  to  the  influence  of  the  e\il  powers, 
and  Satan  uses  them  as  mediums.  But  only  those 
ihui  are  still  living  for  the  natural  side  of  their  life 
can  be  drawn  under  the  power.  And  polygamy  is 
the  direct  influence  of  the  power  of  the  Devil  in  the 
hell-born  lust  of  the  animal  in  man,  and  should  be 
crushed  out  of  every  civilized  nation. 

There  are  many  other  beliefs;  and  all  say  they 
have  scripture  for  what  they  believe.  Is  it  any  wonder 
the  book  is  Satan's  power? 

Before  the  Bible  can  be  understood  it  must  be  taken 
in  all  its  comprehensiveness  from  the  beginning  to 
the  end,  but  it  must  be  read  from  both  the  natural 
and  spiritual  side  of  life. 

The  Bible  can  never  be  read  by  the  natural  man 
to  be  understood,  because  the  teachings  of  the  Bible 
is  foolishness  to  the  natural  man. 

Then  again  we  must  understand  the  difference  in 
the  people  God  was  dealing  with  through  the  old  Bible 


32  The  Spirit  Father 

teachings  and  the  people  in  the  New  Testament  teach- 
ings, and  the  difference  in  the  natural  law  and  com- 
mands given  through  i\Iose.s  to  a  people  that  were  not 
capable  of  understanding  anything  but  the  natural 
or  animal  side  of  their  life.  But  the  law,  commands 
and  promises  given  by  Christ  were  for  the  spiritual 
side  of  our  life,  and  for  the  bringing  of  man  to  a  spiritual- 
ized life.  When  the  Bible  can  be  read  with  our 
spiritual  understanding  opened  or  from  revelation,  it 
is  the  easiest  understood  book  that  can  be  read  by 
man,  but  it  is  a  sealed  book  to  the  natural  man.  The 
mysteries  of  God  or  his  plan  will  never  be  revealed 
to  the  natural  man,  Man  must  seek  unto  God  and 
take  on  his  spiritual  nature  before  he  can  understand 
God's  plan  for  the  redemption  of  the  human  race. 

But  God  is  making  as  much  use  of  the  natural  man 
in  the  working  out  of  his  plan,  as  he  is  of  the  spiritual 
man  in  some  wa3^s.  For  in  the  recorded  history  of  the 
lives  of  the  men  in  the  old  Bible  teachings  we  see  what 
man  is  capable  of  doing  with  his  human  wisdom  and 
understanding,  although  he  has  not  a  spark  of  spiritual 
life  awakened  in  him. 

He  can  be  a  grand  financier,  we  have  that  proven 
in  the  Bible,  he  can  be  a  great  inventor,  he  can  be  a 
great  builder,  he  can  be  a  great  organizer,  and  many 
other  great  things  we  are  told  of  man  doing  in  the  old 
Bible  times. 

And  God  is  making  grand  use  in  this  age  of  the 
inventive  powers  of  man  in  the  working  out  of  his 
plan.  And  in  nothing  is  he  making  grander  use  of 
human  wisdom  than  in  the  bringing  into  use  the  great 


God  Sending  Adam  Out  of  the  Garden  33 

power  of  electricity.  For  we  believe  the  day  will 
come  when  the  chariot  that  will  bring  down  from 
heaven  our  royal  earthly  king  and  all  the  royal  hosts, 
will  be  brought  by  the  power  of  electricity. 

Oh,  what  wonderful  things  one  can  see  and  under- 
stand that  has  got  even  a  glimpse  of  revelation.  Light 
on  the  wonderful  working  out  of  the  plan  of  God  the 
Father  in  the  preparation  he  is  making  for  his  redeemed 
children  on  earth. 

The  very  fruits  and  cereal  foods  that  are  the  proper 
food  for  human  man,  are  being  prepared  by  the  process 
of  electricity,  into  the  most  palatable  foods  that  can 
be  desired  by  the  most  refined  taste. 

The  day  is  coming  when  no  redeemed  child  of  God's 
will  eat  of  the  flesh  of  any  animal  that  has  blood  in 
their  flesh.  No  animal  life  should  ever  be  taken  by 
the  hand  of  man  to  provide  for  the  human  race,  under 
the  spiritual  law. 

I  do  not  understand  about  the  fish,  when  they  are 
taken  from  their  watery  home  they  die  without  the 
use  of  knife  or  hatchet  and  Christ  used  the  fish  in 
feeding  the  multitudes. 

All  our  domestic  animals  have  their  use,  the  horse, 
the  companion  of  man  in  his  daily  labor,  the  dog,  the 
house  guard,  and  companion  of  child  and  man. 

The  cow  to  give  us  milk,  butter,  and  cheese.  The 
hen  to  provide  the  purest  and  most  nourishing  of  all 
food,  the  egg.  And  the  beautiful  lambkin  to  provide 
the  wool  for  the  clothing  of  both  bed  and  body. 

Even  our  cat  has  its  use,  to  destroy  the  creatures 


34  The  Spirit  Father 

of  Satan,  the  dispoilers  of  our  granaries  and  homes, 
the  rat  and  mouse. 

And  our  little  feathered  songsters  and  many  other 
of  the  feathered  tribe  are  domestic  creatures,  and 
have  to  be  provided  for  by  the  hand  of  man  if  we  keep 
them  under  our  supervision.  But  if  we  send  them 
out  to  nature  they  will  find  nature's  food  for  themselves, 
for  God  has  provided  for  all  his  creatures,  food  for 
every  kind.  The  human  race  are  the  only  creatures 
of  God  that  have  been  left  to  provide  and  prepare 
their  own  food  to  suit  their  own  palate.  And  that  has 
made  more  sickness  and  disease  amongst  the  human 
race  than  anything  else  in  the  world.  For  they  eat 
and  drink  what  was  never  intended  for  human  man, 
and  revel  in  their  lusts  until  they  bring  themselves 
into  a  state  worse  than  the  brute.  The  last  of  all  God's 
creatures  to  be  brought  into  subjection  to  the  laws 
of  God  is  the  human  man. 

The  majority  of  people  think  all  those  changes  will 
take  place  after  the  judgment,  but,  no,  all  the  animal 
desires  and  the  power  of  the  animal  seed  has  to  be 
killed  and  cleansed  out  of  the  human  flesh  before  man 
can  be  redeemed  out  of  the  power  of  Satan,  and  the 
glory  and  power  of  God  made  manifest  in  man.  What 
Christ  was,  man  must  become, — the  perfect  spiritual- 
ized man  in  human  flesh. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  BEGINNING  OF  GOd's  WORK  WITH  THE  FALLEN  MAN. 

We  will  follow  Adam  and  Eve  a  little  way  in  their 
new  life.  They  went  forth  from  the  Father  to  begin 
their  married  life  on  their  own  responsibility.  And  in 
place  of  being  the  caretaker  of  his  father's  flock  as  the 
father  intended  him  to  be,  he  had  to  commence  and 
till  the  ground  to  prepare  food  for  himself  and  his  own 
flock.  Eve  conceived  and  brought  forth  her  first 
son  and  called  him  Cain,  and  brought  forth  a  second 
son  and  his  name  was  Abel.  Now,  I  believe  this  is  a 
great  typical  lesson,  and  I  will  interpret  it  here  as  it 
has  been,  I  believe,  divinely  interpreted  to  me,  for  it  is 
part  of  the  key  that  opens  the  Bible.  First,  Cain 
represents  the  natural  man,  and  Abel  represents  the 
spiritual  man.  And  the  death  of  Abel  by  the  hand 
of  Cain  symbolizes  the  death  of  the  spiritual  man  for 
that  dispensation.  And  is  also  typical  of  the  lamb 
slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world. 

We  also  have  represented  in  this  lesson  the  hatred 
of  the  evil  for  the  good,  and  how  Cain,  the  first  son's 
birthright,  became  Abel's.  Cain,  as  the  first  born, 
should  have  been  the  heir,  the  keeper  of  the  sheep 
instead  of  the  tiller  of  the  ground. 

But  the  punishment  put  on  Adam  was  put  on  all  the 
human  race.     Abel,  represented  as  the  keeper  of  the 

.35 


36  The  Spirit  Father 

sheep,  is  a  typical  lesson  of  the  first  and  second  Adam. 
An  emblem,  also,  of  the  words  in  the  new  covenant, 
'The  first  shall  be  last,  and  the  last  shall  be  first." 
First,  the  natural  man,  then  the  spiritual  man. 

Then  we  have  the  lesson  on  the  two  offerings,  and 
what  they  symbolize  for  all  ages  past  and  present. 
First,  Cain  brought  of  the  fruit  of  the  ground,  a  dead 
offering,  a  perishable  offering,  and  it  was  not  acceptable 
to  God;  for  God  could  see  into  the  heart  of  the  giver 
of  the  offering,  and  he  knew  it  was  unclean. 

What  does  this  lesson  symbolize  to  us,  but  the  work 
going  on  in  the  world  at  the  present  age,  and  through 
all  the  Christian  era.  There  are  thousands  of  Chris- 
tians (for  every  one  that  believes  on  Jesus  Christ  is  a 
Christian  in  name)  that  are  giving  some  of  their  time, 
talent,  and  money  to  God,  as  they  believe,  or  in  some 
way  for  God's  work,  but  they  can  give  all  these,  and 
their  hearts  have  never  been  offered  to  God.  For  their 
daily  lives  are  filled  with  all  the  pleasures  and  sin  of 
the  world.  And  their  time,  talent,  and  money  are  all 
of  the  perishable  things  of  earth,  and  sj'mbolizc  the 
offering  of  Cain,  the  offering  of  the  natural  man.  God 
has  no  respect  for  such  offerings,  for  he  can  see  into 
the  heart  of  the  giver,  as  he  saw  into  Cain's  heart 
Cain  was  angry  when  he  saw  God  had  no  respect 
for  what  he  had  offered  him,  and  God  saw  his  anger 
and  told  him  he  need  not  bo  angry  for  if  he  did  right 
he  would  be  accepted,  but  if  he  did  wrong  he  would 
have  to  suffer  for  his  sin.  But  Cain  was  still  angry 
and  went  and  killed  his  brother,  that  means,  b}'  his 
disobedience  to  God,  he  killed  his  spiritual  brother, 


The  Beginning  of  God's  Work  with  Fallen  Man     37 

the  spiritual  life  within  himself,  for  the  natural  and 
spiritual  life  in  man  represents  (twins)  the  two  seeds 
in  one  body,  the  seed  of  man  and  the  seed  of  God, — 
seed  of  the  flesh,  seed  of  the  spirit,  in  one  body.  The 
natural  seed,  mortal,  perishable,  the  spiritual  seed, 
immortal,  unperishable,  through  all  the  everlasting 
ages.  Oh,  that  man  would  seek  unto  God  and  know 
himself  and  know  God. 

Now  let  us  take  Abel's  offering  and  see  what  it 
represents.  He  offered  to  God  the  firstling  of  his 
flock  and  the  best  of  them.  This  was  a  living  offering, 
an  unperishable  offering  and  was  acceptable  to  God, 
and  represents  the  spiritual  man.  This  is  a  lesson 
for  all  generations  to  show  them  what  gifts  or  offerings 
are  acceptable  to  God.  For  sacrifices, — God  wants 
none — except  the  sacrifice  of  a  true,  pure,  willing,  and 
obedient  heart.  The  last  sacrifice  required  of  the  shed- 
ding of  blood  was  freely  and  \villingly  given  by  Christ  to 
seal  the  father's  promises  and  testimony  of  Jesus  as 
the  messenger  of  the  new  covenant.  And  that  blood 
stands  between  every  sinner  and  the  fulfillment  of 
God's  promise  of  forgiveness  to  man  of  all  his  past 
sins.  The  moment  he  sees  himself  a  sinner,  and  seeks 
forgiveness  in  Jesus'  name,  and  for  Jesus'  sake,  that  is 
for  all  past  sins.  Then  3^our  present  and  future  rests 
in  your  own  hands,  as  to  how  you  obey  God  and  the 
life  you  live.  The  sacrifice  Christ  made  is  represented 
in  the  offering  Abel  brought  to  God,  the  living  lamb. 

Then  we  must  learn  from  this  that  the  first  offering 
or  gift  we  bring  to  God  must  be  a  living  offering. 

We  must  freely  and  willingly  surrender  or  restore  to 


38  The  Spirit  Father 

God  that  which  is  his  own,  our  spirit,  and  the  creation  of 
his  hands,  our  souls  and  body.  That  is  the  first  gift 
that  will  be  acceptable  to  God,  a  living  offering.  Then 
as  much  of  your  time,  talent,  and  money  as  he  wishes 
to  use  in  the  Master's  work,  God  will  be  pleased  with  it 
if  you  do  or  give  for  the  love  of  Christ  and  the  advance- 
ment of  his  kingdom.  We  may  give  our  hundreds 
or  thousands  in  charities  that  is  the  work  of  one  human 
creature  helping  another  and  for  our  own  gratification, 
and  many  times  it  is  given  to  please  some  friend,  or 
for  what  the  world  may  say  about  the  giver.  All  that 
may  be  done  without  them  ever  having  a  thought  of 
God  or  Christ  in  their  heart,  but  God  is  the  searcher 
of  all  hearts,  and  he  judges  by  the  heart  not  by  the 
acts. 

When  God  told  Cain  what  his  punishment  was  to 
be,  Cain  tried  to  plead  with  God,  but  God  told  him 
before  he  put  his  punishment  on  him,  to  go  and  do 
right,  but  Cain  disobeyed,  for  he  went  and  killed  his 
brother  (his  spiritual  life).  Then  when  his  punishment 
was  put  on  him,  he  cried,  "0,  Lord,  it  is  more  than 
I  can  bear!"  for  thou  are  driving  me  from  the  face  of 
the  earth,  and  from  thy  face  will  I  be  hid.  Oh,  Lord, 
Oh,  Lord,  I  cannot  bear  it!"  But  all  the  same  Cain 
had  to  go.  He  was  banished  from  the  face  of  God, 
and  cast  out  from  amongst  the  children  of  God. 

God  put  a  mark  on  him,  the  mark  of  the  beast 
(original  sin).  The  one  sin  that  cannot  be  forgiven, 
all  other  sin  God  can  forgive  in  a  moment  if  we  repent 
and  ask  forgiveness.  Original  sin  must  be  purged 
out  of  the  flesh  of  man,  by  the  indwelling  power  of 


The  Beginning  of  God's  Work  with  Fallen  Man    SO 

the  Holy  Spirit.  The  seed  of  the  spirit  must  kill  the 
animal  seed  before  the  flesh  (the  body)  can  be  released 
from  the  power  of  Satan.  That  is  the  one  sin  that 
holds  Satan's  power  over  the  body  of  man. 

And  that  is  what  Christ  died  for,  to  redeem  the  body 
out  of  the  hands  of  Satan. 

And  glory  be  to  God  there  are  many  in  the  world 
to-day  that  feel  the  cleansing  power  of  the  spirit 
sweeping  through  their  body.  Christ  died  to  open  up 
the  way  for  man  to  be  saved  to  the  uttermost,  for 
man  must  stand  on  the  earth  the  spiritualized  man  in  his 
human  life  before  God's  glory  is  fulfilled  in  man,  and 
Satan's  power  broken.  God  has  a  way  unknown  to 
man,  that  every  spirit  that  believes  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  if  they  truly  believe  in  their  heart,  and  live  up 
to  every  light  they  have,  and  search  for  more  light, 
if  it  was  the  last  hour  you  live  on  earth  and  you  turn 
to  God  believing  truly  in  Christ,  your  spirit  will  be 
saved.  And  God  will  reclothe  the  spirit.  And  it  will 
work  its  own  salvation  (on  earth).  God  prepared 
earth  for  the  habitation  of  man. 

On  earth  man  fell  and  went  into  the  power  of  Satan 
and  on  earth  while  it  is  in  its  present  state  man  must 
remain  until  all  that  belong  to  Christ  are  cleansed 
from  the  last  sin.  However,  many  times  God  may 
reclothe  them  on  earth  only  God  himself  knows. 
Satan's  power  must  ye  killed  while  we  are  here. 

God  has  appointed  times  for  all  things  and  when 
his  appointed  time  is  up  for  to  call  the  judgment,  how 
many  will  there  be  like  Cain  that  have  not  taken  God's 
warning  to  go  and  do  right?    Then  they  will  be  like 


40  The  Spirit  Father 

Cain;   they   will   cry,   "Oh,  Lord,  my  punishment  is 

more  than  I  can  bear!"     While  I  write  this  I  think 

I  hear  their  cry. 

Oh,  Brothers  and  Sisters,  be  warned.     Turn  to  your 

God  and  Father,  take  Christ  into  your  heart,  get  into 

the  fold. 
The  great  chain  of  darkness  and  evil  is  broken 

Our  Saviour  has  severed  the  chain. 
But  Hnk  from  each  link  from  the  chain  must  be  broken, 

Before  nian  stands  forth  in  his  freedom  again. 
The  severing  of  the  chain  must  Ije  done  here  on  earth, 
Before  man  can  stand  forth  in  his  frce-bom  birth 
And  regain  the  lost  Glories  of  heaven  and  earth. 

When  Cain  went  into  his  banishment,  he  found  a 
mfe  and  she  brought  forth  a  son.  There  are  many 
people  that  ask  where  did  Cain  get  his  wife?  This 
lesson  teaches  us  that  where  Cain  was  banisb.ed  to.  the 
abode  of  Satan,  he  would  find  i)lenty  of  A\'ives  suitable 
for  him  there. 

But  it  is  Cain's  son  that  we  are  to  have  the  lesson 
on  (Enoch).  Enoch's  human  father  is  represented 
as  the  murderer.  But  we  are  sho^^  n  here  that  it  does 
not  matter  with  God  what  your  father,  mother,  sister 
or  brother  may  be.  They  may  all  be  good  and  amongst 
the  saved,  but  you  might  be  amongst  the  lost,  and 
they  might  all  be  amongst  the  lost,  and  you  one  of  the 
saved.  For  God  -will  hold  every  individual  soul 
responsible  for  their  own  doings  and  the  life  the)'^  live, 
for  God  does  not  deal  with  children. 

God's  dealings  are  with  man  and  woman.  Parents 
will  be  held  responsible  for  the  care  and  bringing  up 
of  their  children  to  a  certain  age.     But  sometimes 


The  Beginning  of  God's  Work  with  Fallen  Man     41 

the  most  carefully  trained  and  brought  up  children 
in  good  Christian  homes,  after  they  have  reached  their 
maturity  have  turned  out  to  be  the  very  sons  of  Satan. 

And  others  have  been  brought  up  in  the  very  hot- 
beds of  sin,  in  their  infancy,  have,  in  their  matured 
years,  turned  out  to  be  some  of  the  noblest  sons  of 
God,  and  the  most  earnest  workers  for  the  master. 

Can  we  not  see  how  the  world  is  flooded  with  skepti- 
cism? 

Our  sons  and  daughters  are  brought  up  in  many 
homes  with  a  holy  reverence  for  God,  and  a  love  and 
desire  in  their  hearts  for  Christ,  and  never  knew  the 
day  they  did  not  bend  in  prayer.  They  have  been 
away  from  home  for  a  few  years  and  intermingled 
with  many  people  of  cUfferent  religions,  and  people  of 
no  religion,  then  come  home  in  a  few  years  flourishing 
the  emblem  of  some  secret  order,  and  in  place  of  talking 
of  the  God  and  Christ  of  their  earlier  years,  they  begin 
telling  us  of  a  supreme  being,  or  a  ruler  of  the  universe, 
and  of  Christ  as  an  exemplary  man,  and  so  on,  and 
so  on,  until  they  come  to  the  place  where  they  think 
it  is  a  farce  to  bend  their  knee  in  prayer  to  the  God  of 
heaven.  Oh!  Satan's  power,  Satan's  power,  from  the 
dark  ages. 

How  many  good  mothers  and  wives  are  crying  to 
God  to-day  to  break  the  power  of  darkness  that  is 
holding  their  husbands  and  children  in  the  bondage  of 
Satan  and  under  the  power  of  the  natural  law.  We 
are  told  that  Enoch  walked  with  God,  and  that  he 
never  tasted  death.  The  death  spoken  of  there 
represents  the  spiritual  death. 


42  The  Spirit  Father 

The  man  that  walks  with  God  and  obeys  his  com- 
mands will  never  taste  of  the  spiritual  death.  Christ 
never  tasted  the  spiritual  death,  but  he  tasted  of  the 
natural  death  all  flesh  must  taste  of  the  natural  death. 

But  the  spiritual  man  has  no  need  to  fear  the  natural 
death,  for  Christ  conquered  the  power  of  the  natural 
death  (for  all  flesh)  both  saved  and  unsaved;  whether 
you  be  clothed  in  a  spiritual  body,  or  a  natural  body, 
a  celestial  or  a  terrestrial  body,  at  the  judgment 
day  it  will  be  your  final  body.  Whether  you  be  one 
of  Christ's  or  one  of  Satan's,  it  may  not  be  a  moment 
of  matter  to  God.  Although  it  is  God's  Avish  and  he 
has  opened  the  way  for  all  men  and  women  to  save 
their  own  souls,  that  means  a  continuance  of  our  human 
life.  No  matter  what  body  we  are  clothed  in  we  will  all  be 
God's  creatures,  just  as  all  are  his  creatures  now,  so  will 
we  be  then,  for  he  is  the  father  of  the  spirits  of  all  flesh, 
both  good  and  bad.  But,  dear  reader,  it  Mill  make 
a  vast  difference  to  you  or  I  what  kind  of  a  body  we 
are  clothed  in  at  that  day,  or  whether  we  belong 
to  Christ  or  Satan,  or  whether  we  are  sentenced  to 
everlasting  spiritual  life  with  Christ  as  our  king,  or 
everlasting  spiritual  death  with  Satan  as  our  king. 
For  each  will  be  king  of  their  own  kingdom.  God, 
himself,  will  not  be  the  king  of  either  earth  or  hell, 
God  will  ever  be  the  king  of  heaven,  but  each  of  his 
sons  will  have  their  own  kingdom,  and  their  own 
subjects.  And  each  will  be  finally  separated  from 
the  other.  No  more  intermingling.  There  will  be 
a  perfect  and  everlasting  separation. 

At  the  time  appointed,  the  day  God  has  set  to  do 


The  Beginning  of  God's  Work  with  Fallen  Man   43 

this  work,  it  will  be  done.  But  no  creature  but  God 
himself  knows  the  day  or  hour  that  will  take  place. 
Not  the  very  angels  in  heaven  know.  He  works 
out  all  his  own  plans,  without  consulting  man  about 
them.  And  at  that  day  God  has  decreed  that  every 
creature  shall  put  on  their  everlasting  garments  and 
receive  their  final  doom.  Every  creature  then  will 
receive  the  doom  they  have  brought  upon  themselves, 
either  by  their  obedience  or  their  disobedience  to  God. 
Not  what  God  has  decreed  for  you  but  what  you  have 
decreed  for  yourself,  for  it  was  God's  will  that  all 
should  be  saved  and  come  to  the  knowledge  of  God, 
and  regain  their  lost  glory.  But  all  were  left  to  the 
freedom  of  their  own  will,  and  to  choose  for  themselves. 
If  they  choose  Christ  then  to  Christ  they  will  belong, 
and  if  they  have  chosen  Satan  and  his  service,  then 
to  Satan  they  will  belong. 

The  earth  will  be  brought  into  the  state  that  the 
garden  of  Eden  represents  to  us,  before  the  curse  was 
put  on  the  ground  for  man's  fall  and  the  devourer 
permitted  to  destroy  more  than  half  of  its  production. 
But  the  earth  in  its  restored  state  will  bring  forth 
food  in  all  its  abundance,  for  all  the  human  race,  and 
without  the  great  toil  and  labor  man  has  now.  It  will 
be  the  home  of  peace  and  plenty,  for  all  the  redeemed 
children  of  God,  and  Christ  will  be  the  universal  king. 
I  wonder  how  many  fully  understand  what  the  curse 
that  was  put  upon  the  earth  has  meant  to  man.  Those 
that  have  been  in  the  habit  of  studying  nature  may, 
but  not  many,  I  believe.  All  the  vermin  and  insects, 
and  the  great  storms  and  frosts  that  come  and  destroy 


44  The  Spirit  Father 

our  fields,  our  orchards,  and  our  beautiful  gardens,  are 
all  a  part  of  the  curse  put  upon  the  ground. 

When  that  is  removed,  for  it  vdW  be  in  God's  time, 
then  the  ground  will  bring  forth  its  full  increase,  and 
man's  labors  will  be  light,  for  the  ground  will  be  purified 
and  there  will  be  neither  vermin,  insects,  weeds  nor 
thistles. 

About  Satan's  kingdom  and  his  subjects  we  will 
refer  our  readers  to  the  thirty-fourth  chapter  of  Isaiah. 
Read  it  with  care  and  prayer. 

Oh,  sisters,  oh,  brothers,  if  you  could  only  understand 
what  it  will  be  for  you  to  reject  Christ  and  God's 
mercy,  you  would  seek  God's  face  to-day. 

We  must  go  back  to  Adam  and  his  next  son.  It  says 
Adam  begot  a  son  in  his  own  likeness  and  in  his  own 
image.  Now  we  will  look  and  see  what  was  the  dif- 
ference between  the  image  Adam  was  created  in 
and  the  likeness  his  son  was  begotten  in.  Adam 
was  created  in  the  image  of  his  spirit  father  and  capable 
of  becoming  a  spiritualized  man  in  his  human  form. 
Capable  of  receiving  divine  wisdom,  divine  knowledge 
and  divine  understanding,  and  remaining  in  a  pure 
and  holy  state  if  he  had  obeyed  God;  that  was  Adam's 
image  to  his  father. 

Now  let  us  see  whose  image  Seth  bare.  He  was 
begot  in  the  image  of  Adam,  his  natural  father,  the 
fallen  man,  and  in  his  natural  state  he  was  incapable 
of  receiving  divine  v.'isdom,  knowledge  or  understand- 
ing for  he  was  begot  from  the  animal  seed,  therefore, 
just  the  animal  man  in  human  form.  And  this  is  the 
kind  of  man  we  have  to  deal  with  through  all  the  ages. 


The  Beginning  of  God's  Work  luith  Fallen  Man    45 

For  man  is  no  more  than  that  unless  the  spiritual 
life  has  been  quickened.  He  understands  nothing  but 
the  things  of  nature.  And  as  there  v/as  no  spiritual 
covenant,  or  covenant  of  an  everlasting  life  for  the 
flesh  made  with  man  through  all  the  old  Bible  teachings 
they  only  lived  under  the  natural  or  Mosaic  law.  But 
God  made  a  promise  to  the  obedient  and  faithful  that 
a  covenant  would  be  made,  and  those  that  were 
obedient  and  faithful  received  the  promise  that  God 
would  hold  them  in  remembrance  when  the  time  came. 
We  can  read  of  David's  confidence  in  God,  where  he 
says,  "God  would  not  let  his  soul  be  lost."  He  believed 
the  promise  would  be  his,  and  he  was  looking  forward 
to  its  fulfillment. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


WICKEDNESS    OF    MAN. 


We  must  now  begin  and  follow  God's  work  with 
man,  and  his  specially  prepared  instruments  or  servants 
through  all  the  old  Bible  teachings  till  we  come  to  the 
fulfillment  of  the  new  covenant  in  the  birth  of  Christ, 
then  to  the  River  Jordan,  from  that  through  all 
Christ's  work  to  his  ascension,  from  that  to  the  present 
age,  before  the  Bible  can  be  understood,  and  only 
slightly  understood  then,  unless  we  can  read  like  Paul, 
with  the  scales  taken  off  of  our  eyes,  then  the  spiritual 
eyes  can  see,  and  the  heart  can  understand. 

We  read  of  many  strange  things  in  the  old  Bible 
teachings  that  seem  foolishness  to  us,  unless  we  can 
understand  the  object  lessons  they  are  meant  to  reveal, 
for  there  is  an  object  lesson  in  the  life  of  every  one 
that  is  recorded  in  Bible  history. 

God  saw  man  as  they  began  to  multiply,  and  the 
more  they  multiplied  the  more  wicked  they  became. 

Daughters  were  born  unto  them. 

If  we  pay  attention  when  we  read  the  Bible,  God 
never  had  any  dealings  with  the  daughters  of  men. 
All  his  dealings  and  covenants,  promises  and  commands 
through  all  the  old  Testament  were  with  men,  only 
when  he  put  the  punishment  on  Eve. 

All  his  commands  were  given  to  the  man,  the  tree, 
46 


Wickedness  of  Man  47 

not  to  the  branch.  Woman  was  told  then  that  man 
would  rule  over  her,  and  that  rule  has  been  from 
generation  to  generation,  and  is  to-day.  Wherever 
you  find  a  man  that  has  not  the  love  of  God  and  the 
teachings  of  Christ  in  his  heart  and  life,  that  man  is  a 
tyrant.  He  may  hide  his  real  self  under  many  kind 
and  good  acts,  and  do  many  things  that  makes  him 
look  before  the  world  a  perfect  man.  But  come  down 
with  him  to  his  own  private  life,  and  we  will  find  that 
self  and  self-will,  is  his  ruling  power.  Let  us  see  in 
what  condition  God  found  man  in  when  Adam  had 
lived  nine  hundred  and  thirty  years. 

God  found  man  so  degenerated  that  he  said,  the 
wickedness  of  man  was  so  great  that  every  imagination 
of  the  thoughts  of  his  heart  was  evil ;  and  it  is  the  same 
to-day,  wherever  we  find  an  evil  man  or  woman  we 
will  find  an  unclean  heart.  But  God  said  his  spirit 
would  not  always  strive  with  man,  for  that  man  was 
flesh  as  well  as  spirit. 

God  was  sorry  that  he  had  ever  made  man,  or  put 
him  on  the  earth  in  his  human  form,  and  his  heart  was 
grieved  about  it.  He  said  he  would  destroy  man  that 
he  had  created  from  off  the  face  of  the  earth,  both  man 
and  beast. 

The  beasts  had  to  be  destroyed,  for  the  men  had 
turned  into  beasts,  in  their  degenerated  state. 

Let  us  look  at  the  three  types  of  men  we  have  in  the 
world  in  this  age,  and  we  will  have  some  idea  of  what 
God  was  dealing  with  in  that  age. 

We  have  the  brutalized  man,  the  humanized  man, 
and  the  spiritualized  man.  First  we  will  look  at  the 
brutalized  man.      His  companions  and  manner  of  life 


48  The  Spirit  Father 

are  of  the  lowest  and  most  degraded  of  the  human  race. 
His  surroundings  and  life  are  more  fitted  for  the  animal 
than  the  human  man.  Then  let  us  look  at  the  human- 
ized man,  he  may  be  a  good  husband,  a  good  father, 
and  a  man  that  lives  a  good,  pure,  refined  life  and  likes 
his  surroundings  to  be  of  the  best  and  finest  that  money 
can  buy.  Honest  and  upright  in  all  his  dealings  with 
his  fellow-men. 

Some  with  large  incomes,  some  with  small  incomes, 
and  all  they  live  for  is  the  desires  and  comforts  of  the 
human  life,  and  the  money  they  can  make  for  the 
pleasures  and  amusements  they  can  get  out  of  it, 
without  a  thought  of  whether  their  life  is  pleasing 
to  God  and  without  a  thought  of  their  soul's  safety,  or 
spiritual  life.  They  are  counted  good  people  as  the 
world  sees  them. 

Then  we  have  the  spiritualized  man.  He  lives 
his  daily  life  amongst  all  his  business  or  daily  labors 
from  the  spiritual  side  of  his  life.  His  desire  is  to 
please  God,  and  the  first  love  of  his  heart  is  for  Christ, 
and  a  longing  desire  to  win  his  fellow-men  to  a  knowl- 
edge of  God  and  Christ  and  the  need  of  seeking  after 
their  soul's  salvation.  These  are  the  types  of  men  God 
has  to  deal  with  at  the  present  age. 

When  God  looked  on  the  earth  out  of  his  pure  eyes, 
he  saw  the  whole  earth  was  corrupt,  and  all  the  flesh 
had  corrupted  its  way.  God  is  speaking  of  the  flesh 
not  the  spirit.  God  said,  "I  will  make  an  end  of  all 
flesh." 

Noah  had  been  a  just  and  perfect  man  in  his  genera- 
tion, and  he  found  grace  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord. 


Wickedness  of  Man  49 

Now  we  must  stop  and  look  and  see  what  we  are 
reading. 

Noah  was  a  just  and  perfect  man — according  to 
what  was  required  of  him  by  his  God  and  Father  in 
the  times  in  which  he  lived.  But  what  was  a  perfect 
man  for  that  generation  would  not  make  a  perfect 
man  in  this,  our  generation.  But  we  can  find  only  too 
many  in  the  world  now,  who  want  to  live  the  life  of 
that  degraded  generation,  and  yet  expect  God  to  give 
them  all  the  blessings  he  has  promised  to  those  who 
live  a  perfect  life.  But  they  forget  to  look  or  to  find 
out  what  that  perfect  life  requires  us  to  do.  We 
ought  to  bear  in  mind  it  is  not  to  follow  Adam  and 
go  and  serve  the  devil  at  the  alluring  smiles  of  the 
first  Eve  we  fall  in  with. 

For  that  did  not  do,  even  in  Adam's  time.  He 
got  his  punishment. 

But  the  Lord  said  to  Noah,  "The  end  of  all  flesh 
is  come  before  me,  for  the  earth  is  filled  with  violence 
through  them  and  I  will  destroy  them  with  the  earth." 

Just  think  a  moment  what  God  created  when  he 
made  the  world — Heaven  and  earth  and  sea. 

There  were  many  strange  things  put  in  the  deep, 
perhaps  before  ever  God  made  the  earth.  The  devil 
was  cast  down  into  the  bottomless  pit,  and  there  are 
lots  of  devils  in  the  deep  now.  And  the  sea  has  to 
give  up  its  dead  and  its  living  at  the  judgment  day 
as  well  as  the  earth.  We  are  told  in  the  first  part  of 
the  Book  that  God's  spirit  moved  upon  the  face  of  the 
waters.  There  must  have  been  water  then,  but  not 
held  in  the  bounds  as  they  are  now. 


CO  The  Spirit  Father 

And  when  God  told  Noah  he  would  destroy  the  earth, 
and  everything  that  was  in  it,  except  Noah  and  his 
family,  God  did  not  speak  of  destroying  either  the  sea 
or  the  heavens,  only  the  earth.  God  told  Noah  to 
get  ready  an  ark  and  to  get  into  it  with  his  family,  and 
of  all  the  living  things,  male  and  female,  to  keep  seed, 
for  God  was  not  going  to  create  again.  They  were  to 
multiply  and  be  fruitful  and  fill  the  earth.  They 
were  under  permission  as  Adam  was  after  he  fell,  to 
propagate  from  the  animal  seed  and  under  the  natural 
law.  Noah  and  his  family  went  into  the  ark.  God 
shut  him  in  and  he  had  to  stay  until  God  let  him 
out. 

Now  the  shutting  of  Noah  by  God  into  the  ark  is 
an  emblem  of  the  power  given  to  Christ.  He  shall  open 
for  us  the  way  into  heaven,  and  none  shall  shut,  and 
he  shall  shut  and  none  shall  open. 

And  again,  he  shall  cast  Satan  into  the  bottomless 
pit,  and  shut  him  up,  and  seal  him  in  for  a    time. 

When  Noah  saw  that  the  waters  had  gone  down 
he  sent  a  raven  out  of  the  ark,  and  the  raven  did  not 
return  but  went  off,  to  and  fro,  up  and  down. 

What  kind  of  bird  is  a  raven? 

He  is  a  devouring,  greedy  bird,  who  goes  about 
plundering  by  violence  and  was  the  first  evil  one  let 
loose  again  on  the  earth.  An  emblem  of  Satan. 
When  God  asked  him  where  he  came  from,  he  said, 
"from  going  to  and  fro  on  the  earth." 

Then  Noah  sent  a  dove,  but  she  found  no  rest. 
She  had  to  return  to  the  shelter  of  the  ark,  an  emblem 


Wickedness  of  Man  51 

of  God's  children  returning  to  the  bosom  of  their 
father. 

God  told  Noah  and  his  sons  that  he  would  establish 
a  covenant  with  them  and  to  everything  on  the  earth 
that  he  would  never  again  send  a  flood  that  would 
destroy  all  flesh,  nor  would  he  destroy  all  the  earth 
again  by  water.  But  that  does  not  say  it  will  not 
be  cleansed  in  some  other  way. 

That  covenant  was  to  be  perpetual  from  generation 
to  generation,  and  the  token  of  the  covenant  was  to 
be  a  bow  set  in  the  heavens.  God's  promise  has  been 
kept  from  that  generation  to  this,  for  we  have  the  bow 
of  the  covenant  with  us  now.  So  you  see  God's  word 
never  fails. 

That  was  the  first  covenant  made  with  man,  and 
there  was  no  promise  there  of  an  everlasting  life.  But 
we  will  follow  the  covenants,  promises  and  commands. 

The  first  thing  Noah  began  to  do  when  he  got  out 
of  the  ark  was  to  offer  burnt  offerings  to  God,  and 
when  the  Lord  smelled  it,  he  said,  "Every  imagination 
of  man  was  evil."  And  he  would  just  try  what  could 
be  done  with  them.  But  the  next  thing  Noah  does 
is  to  get  drunk  and  disgrace  himself.  He  died  at 
nine  hundred  and  fifty  years.  No  promise  there  of 
everlasting  life.  Noah  obeyed  God  and  did  what 
God  told  him  when  he  built  the  ark,  but  did  what  the 
old  serpent  told  him  when  he  got  drunk,  and  brought 
on  himself  disgrace. 

That  is  the  second  generation,  and  the  third  genera- 
tion began. 

God  said  he  would  go  down  and  see  what  they  were 
doing,  and  he  found  a  very  ambitious  people. 


52  The  Spirit  Father 

They  started  to  make  brick  and  mortar  and  were 
going  to  build  them  a  city,  and  a  tower  that  they 
thought  to  reach  heaven  by.  You  see,  even  in  those 
days,  the  people  would  have  liked  to  have  reached 
up  to  heaven,  and  seen  in.  And  they  thought  they 
would  make  themselves  a  great  name  just  as  many 
think  to  do  in  this  time.  They  think  if  the}'  do  some 
great  deed  they  will  make  for  themselves  a  great  name. 
But  what  is  a  name  if  it  is  a  perishable  one? 

At  that  time  all  the  people  spoke  in  one  language, 
and  the  Lord  said,  "Let  us  go  down  and  confound 
their  language  that  they  may  not  understand  one 
another's  speech."  That  is  an  emblem  of  to-day's  life 
in  the  world,  for  we  have  nations  and  nations  that  do 
not  understand  each  other's  language. 

And  the  people  of  darkness  (e\'il)  do  not  understand 
the  language  or  the  speech  of  the  true  people  of  God. 

He  scattered  them  abroad  upon  the  face  of  the  earth. 

We  can  take  the  literal  meaning  out  of  all  we  read 
in  the  Bible,  but  the  most  of  it  is  typical,  and  in 
parable,  and  can  only  be  read  in  the  spirit's  light 
when  God  opens  the  understanding  and  interprets  it. 
And  God  has  done  that  to  all  his  chosen  servants 
before  he  sends  them  to  do  his  work.  He  makes  them 
to  understand  what  they  are  to  do,  and  he  expects 
to  be  obeyed,  for  that  is  the  first  command  and  desire 
of  every  good  father,  that  his  children  shall  obey. 

And  as  there  is  in  every  large  family  some  that  are 
more  capable  and  trustworthy  than  others,  and  more 
obedient,  their  father  will  choose  them  for  any  respon- 
sible work  he  has  to  do.     Well,  it  is  just  the  same  with 


Wickedness  of  Man  53 

our  spirit  father.  He  knows  his  children,  and  knows 
whom  he  can  trust  with  his  work. 

No  earthly  father  would  send  his  son  on  his  business 
anywhere  without  giving  him  his  orders,  and  telling 
him  what  he  wanted  done,  and  how  to  do  it.  So  it 
is  with  our  spirit  father.  When  he  sends  any  of  his 
family  to  do  his  business,  he  tells  them  how  to  do  it, 
and  he  will  hold  them  responsible  for  what  they  do. 

There  are  a  great  many  in  the  world  who  have  taken 
upon  themselves  to  do  our  heavenly  father's  business. 

If  they  could  understand  what  God  will  hold  them 
accountable  for,  they  would  leave  it  alone  until  God 
called  them,  and  made  them  ready.  For  no  man 
can  make  himself  read  for  God's  work. 

A  desire  in  our  heart  to  be  God's  child,  or  a  desire 
to  go  out  and  preach  and  teach  to  others  does  not  fit 
us  to  be  God's  special  servants.  That  is  what  has  put 
God's  work  in  the  tumult  it  is  in,  so  many  want  to 
be  preachers. 

Why  is  there  so  many  people,  both  men  and  women, 
that  aie  so  anxious  to  go  out  to  preach? 

There  must  be  some  reason  for  it. 

They  cannot  all  be  called  to  the  work  of  God,  for 
if  they  were  there  would  be  none  of  this  trouble  and 
controversy  that  is  among  so  many  of  the  self-called 
"servants  of  God." 

They  do  not  imderstand  the  difference  between 
the  call  of  Christ  as  the  master,  to  go  and  work  in  the 
vineyard,  and  God  calling  one  of  his  true  sons,  and 
enduing  him  for  some  world-wide  mission  in  the  work 
of  carrying  forward  God's  plan  for  the  redemption 
of  the  human  race. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


ABRAM    AND    SARAI, 


God  told  Abram  to  go  out  of  the  country  he  was 
living  in,  and  away  from  all  his  kindred  and  to  go  into 
a  land  that  he  would  show  him,  and  that  he  would 
bless  him,  and  make  his  name  great;  and  in  him  would 
all  the  families  of  the  earth  be  blessed. 

So  Abram  just  obeyed — did  as  God  commanded 
him.  He  was  then  seventy-five  years  old.  He  took 
Sarai,  his  wife,  and  Lot,  his  brother's  son,  and  all 
things  that  belonged  to  them,  and  they  started  to  go 
into  the  land  of  Canaan. 

Now  Abram's  life,  as  far  as  it  is  set  forth  in  the 
Bible,  is  to  typify  Christ's  life. 

Abram's  first  act  was  obedience. 

He  simply  obeyed  the  command  of  God.  That  was 
not  faith,  that  was  obedience.  Our  life  must  simply 
be  obedience  to  the  laws  and  commands  of  God,  and 
then  faith  to  believe  what  God  has  promised  he  can 
and  will  fulfill. 

Faith  without  obedience  will  bring  no  blessing  to 
any  one. 

Abram  obeyed,  and  went  right  into  the  land  of 
Canaan,  God  told  him  to  lift  up  his  eyes  and  look 
to  the  north,  to  the  south,  to  the  east  and  west,  and 

54 


Ahram  and  Sarai  55 

said  all  the  land  that  he  saw  would  be  given  to  him  and 
his  seed  forever. 

Look  at  Lot  as  he  came  on  his  journey  with  Abram. 

Abram  was  rich  and  had  great  flocks  and  herds,  so 
also,  had  Lot,  There  was  strife  came  between  the 
herdsmen  of  Abram's  flocks,  and  the  herdsmen  of 
Lot's  flocks. 

We  can  look  around  the  world  now  and  see  the  same 
strife  going  on  between  the  herdsmen,  or  Pastors,  as 
they  are  called,  who  are  supposed  to  be  tending  the 
flocks  of  God.  It  is  just  strife,  strife.  But  Abram 
said,  "let  there  be  no  strife,  I  pray  thee,  between  me 
and  thee,  or  between  my  herdsmen  and  thy  herdsmen 
for  we  are  brethren."  How  were  they  brothers.  Lot 
was  Abram's  nephew?  He  called  him  brother  in  the 
same  sense  that  he  called  Sarai,  his  wife,  sister.  When 
asked  why  he  tried  to  pass  his  wife  off  as  his  sister, 
he  said,  "yes,  indeed,  she  is  my  sister,  for  she  is  the 
daughter  of  my  father,  but  not  the  daughter  of  my 
mother."  He  meant  the  spirit  father  was  the  father 
of  them  both,  but  their  flesh  did  not  grow  in  the  same 
mother's  womb. 

There  was  a  battle  with  some  of  the  kings,  and  Lot 
and  all  he  had  was  captured  and  taken  away.  Word 
was  brought  to  Abram  that  his  brother  Lot  was  taken 
captive. 

So  Abram  armed  his  own  trained  servants,  born 
in  his  own  house.  Those  are  the  kind  of  servants 
God  must  have,  servants  born  in  his  own  house,  they 
must  be  born  again.  They  must  have  the  spiritual 
birth  before  they  can  be  servants  fitted  for  God's 


56  The  Spirit  Father 

work.  They  must  be  trained  and  tried  before  God 
will  trust  them  to  handle  the  sword  of  the  spirit. 
Abram  took  his  trained  servants  and  followed  after 
Lot,  and  took  him  and  all  his  possessions  from  the 
hands  of  the  kings,  and  brought  him  back  safely. 

God  blessed  him  for  what  he  had  done. 

Melchizedek,  the  king,  brought  forth  the  bread  and 
wine  (an  emblem  of  the  bread  and  wine  used  by  Christ; 
for  the  bringing  back  of  Lot  and  all  his  goods  by 
Abram  is  a  symbol  of  Christ  bringing  back  the  children 
of  God  out  of  the  hands  of  Satan.) 

And  when  the  king  wanted  Abram  to  take  a  portion 
of  the  goods  that  he  had  captured,  he  said,  "I  have 
made  a  vow  unto  the  most  high  God  the  possessor 
of  heaven  and  earth,  that  I  will  not  take  even  a  thread, 
nor  a  shoe  latchet  or  anything  that  is  thine,  lest  thou 
would  say,  'I  have  made  Abram  rich.'  "  (Another 
emblem  of  Christ).  He  wanted  nothing  from  earth, 
only  to  save  and  heal,  and  cleanse  the  people,  and  get 
them  out  of  the  hands  of  Satan  and  sin,  and  safely 
back  to  the  father.  Abram  knew  that  all  his  posses- 
sions were  waiting  for  him  in  the  land  he  was  going  to. 

So  after  God  had  seen  Abram 's  faithfulness  he  came 
to  him  in  a  vision,  and  said,  "Fear  not  Abram,  I  am 
thy  shield,  and  thy  great  reward."  And  what  God 
was  to  Abram  then,  he  is  now  to  ever}'  one  that  will 
be  his,  and  -will  love  and  obey  him.  He  will  be  our 
shield,  and  he  will  give  us  our  reward.  But  Abram 
said,  "Lord,  what  wilt  thou  give  me,  seeing  that  lam 
childless."  He  thought  as  he  had  no  heir  what  would 
be  the  use  of  anything  to  him. 


Ahram  and  Sarai  57" 

It  would  all  have  to  go  to  a  stranger,  for  he  kneAv 
he  could  not  take  it  with  him  to  the  grave.  But  God 
said  he  would  give  him  an  heir,  and  told  him  to  look 
up  at  the  stars,  that  his  seed  would  be  as  many  as 
the  stars  of  heaven,  that  is,  all  who  are  saved  through 
Christ  will  be  called  Abram's  seed. 

And  he  believed  in  the  Lord,  and  God  counted  it 
to  him  for  righteousness. 

You  will  see  that  God  has  been  having  quite  a  few 
dealings  with  Abram  before  this,  but  it  was  all  telling 
him  what  to  do,  and  he  obeyed.  When  God  made 
a  promise  to  him,  he  believed,  and  that  was  counted 
faith,  the  obedience  was  first  and  faith  after,  but  most 
people  now  want  the  faith  to  save  them  without  the 
obedience.     We  cannot  have  salvation  that  way. 

God  again  appeared  to  Abram,  when  he  was  ninety 
years  old,  to  renew  the  covenant.  He  said,  "I  am 
the  Almighty  God,  walk  thou  before  me  a  perfect  life, 
and  your  name  shall  be  changed  to  Abraham." 

If  we  pay  attention  when  we  read  the  Bible,  God 
has  given  the  names  to  all  the  promised  children 
himself,  and  has  changed  the  mane  of  many  of  his 
Kservants  as  he  did  Abraham's. 

The  Lord  said,  "I  will  establish  my  covenant  with 
thee,  and  thou  shalt  keep  it,  and  thy  seed  after  thee 
in  their  generation."  Mind,  that  is  not  for  this 
generation,  that  was  for  that  generation,  and  for  that 
time.  The  covenant  was  that  every  man  child 
was  to  be  circumcised  in  his  foreskin.  But  for  this, 
our  generation,  we  are  to  have  our  hearts  circumcised. 
That  was  a  covenant  made  with  their  flesh,  and  had 
nothing  to  do  with  their  spirit. 


58  The  Spirit  Father 

The  first  circumcision  represents  the  circumcision  of 
of  the  animal  man  and  under  the  animal  or  natural  law. 
The  second  circumcision  represents  the  circumcision  of 
the  spiritual  man  and  under  the  spiritual  law.  Then  God 
changed  Sarai's  name  to  Sarah,  because  he  was  going  to 
bless  her  and  give  her  a  son.  But  when  Abraham  heard 
it  he  fell  on  his  face  and  laughed.  He  doubted.  You  see 
he  was  not  very  steadfast  in  his  faith,  for  he  thought  it 
would  not  be  possible,  that  he  being  a  hundred  years 
old,  and  Sarah  ninety,  that  she  could  bear  a  son. 
God  said,  "she  shall  bear  thee  a  son  indeed,  and 
thou  shalt  call  his  name  Isaac,  and  I  will  establish  my 
covenant  with  him,  and  his  seed  after  him." 

God  kept  one  seed  of  every  generation  through 
the  old  covenant  before  the  world  as  typical  of  Christ, 
until  he  brought  forth  the  true  seed  from  the  virgin 
womb. 

The  opening  of  Sarah's  barren  womb  has  an  object 
lesson  in  it,  to  let  us  see  that  the  word  of  God  can 
bring  fruit  from  any  womb  if  he  wants  it  for  his  own 
use. 

No  fruit  ever  grew,  or  will  grow  in  any  womb, 
unless  by  God's  will. 

Man  may  sow  the  seed  as  God  permitted  when  he 
cursed  the  ground  for  Eve's  sin,  and  Adam's  fall,  but 
man  cannot  make  the  fruit  grow.  It  takes  God  to 
do  that. 

For  it  says  in  the  same  place  that  God  closed  up  the 
wombs  of  the  house  of  Ahimeleck,  and  that  Abraham 
prayed  and  God  opened  their  wombs,  and  they  bare 
children,  that  was  in  answer  to  the  prayer  of  Abraham. 


Ahram  and  Sarai  59 

So  God  answers  prayer.  We  again  find  Abraham 
pleading  with  God,  when  he  is  going  to  destroy  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah  for  the  wickedness  of  the  people.  He 
is  pleading  with  God  not  to  punish  the  righteous  with 
the  wicked.  God  said  if  he  fovmd  fifty  righteous,  he 
would  spare  all  the  place  for  their  sake.  But  there  were 
not  fifty  to  be  found.  And  Abraham  cried  out,  "Oh, 
what  am  I  that  I  should  speak  to  the  Lord,  I,  that  am 
only  dust  and  ashes.  Do  not  be  angry  with  me,  Lord, 
but  will  you  spare  the  place  if  there  are  twenty  good 
people  in  it?"  And  God  said,  "I  will  not  destroy 
it  if  I  find  ten."  Ah!  the  merciful  and  loving  father 
is  always  willing  to  save,  if  we  are  willing  to  obey. 

We  often  hear  people  say,  when  speaking  of  the 
wickedness  of  some  city  or  nation,  that  it  is  a  wonder 
God  does  not  destroy  them  off  the  face  of  the  earth. 
But  God's  mercy  is  as  great  to-day  as  it  was  when 
Abraham  pled  with  God  to  spare  the  cities  for  the 
few  righteous.  God  said  if  he  found  ten  he  would 
spare  them.  Christ  is  pleading  with  God  to  spare  the 
cities  and  nations,  not  for  the  sake  of  the  few  righteous, 
but  for  the  sake  of  the  many  sinners,  till  he  try  to  save 
them.  And  God  is  doing  that  now,  for  the  sake  of  the 
many  that  are  ignorant  of  their  own  condition.  But 
God  has  his  own  appointed  time  to  destroy,  and  not 
all  the  pleading  of  Christ  can  avert  the  destruction 
of  the  people  and  nations  that  will  not  obey  God, 
when  the  time  comes. 

Every  hour  is  bringing  that  day  nearer. 

There  could  not  be  found  ten  good  people  in  the  place. 
So  God  said  it  would  be  destroyed. 


60  The  Spirit  Father 

The  two  men  who  were  sent  to  tell  Lot  to  go  out 
of  the  city  before  it  was  destroyed  went  to  Lot's  house, 
the  people  of  the  city  saw  them  go  in,  so  they  came 
from  all  Cjuarters  of  the  city,  and  surrounded  the  house, 
to  take  and  destroy  the  men.  Lot  went  out  to  them  and 
asked  them  not  to  do  evil,  but  they  were  angry  with  Lot 
and  said  they  would  deal  worse  with  him  than  with 
the  men  if  he  interfered.  So  the  men  in  the  house 
pulled  Lot  in  and  shut  the  door,  then  smote  the  men 
at  the  door,  with  blindness,  both  small  and  great,  so 
that  they  wearied  themselves  trying  to  find  the  door. 
(Another  emblem  of  Christ).  When  he  has  taken  all 
into  the  father's  house  that  belong  to  it,  he  will  shut 
the  door,  and  those  that  are  without  may  weary 
themselves  trying  to  find  the  door.  But  they  will 
not  be  able  to  find  it,  for  it  will  be  closed  to  them 
torever. 

How  many  to-day,  both  small  and  great,  are  groping 
their  way  in  blindness,  and  wearying  themselves 
to  find  the  door  and  cannot.  For  straight  is  the  way, 
and  narrow  is  the  path  that  leadeth  into  the  Father's 
house.  But  broad  and  tempting  are  the  many  ways 
that  leadeth  away  from  the  Father's  home. 

The  men  told  Lot  to  take  his  wife  and  family  and 
flee  for  their  lives  from  that  city  of  wickedness,  and  not 
to  look  once  behind  them,  but  to  go  straight  on  for 
fear  evil  would  befall  them. 

Lot's  wife  disobeyed,  and  she  was  destroyed.  A 
warning  to  all  generations  to  turn  their  face  heaven- 
ward, and  never  look  back,  go  straight  on.  Another 
emblem  of  what  the  end  of  tlie  wicked  will  be,  for  as 


Abram  and  Sarai  61 

God  cast  the  wicked  from  him  at  the  beginning,  so 
will  he  deal  with  them  at  the  end.  God  kept  his 
promise  to  Abraham  in  giving  him  his  son  Isaac. 

Then  God  tried  Abraham's  faith  and  obedience  and 
found  him  faithful,  even  to  the  slaying  of  his  only- 
son,  if  it  had  been  required.  But  when  God  saw  that 
he  was  faithful,  and  willing  to  give  up  his  son,  God 
sent  an  angel  to  tell  Abraham  not  to  harm  Isaac,  that 
he  was  only  trying  his  faith. 

And  told  Abraham,  because  he  had  found  him  faith- 
ful, he  would  bless  him  and  multiply  the  blessings,  that 
his  seed  should  possess  the  gate  of  his  enemies. 

All  those  blessings  that  God  was  giving  to  Abraham 
and  his  seed,  was  because  Abraham  had  obeyed  his 
voice,  and  had  done  all  things  as  God  had  commanded 
him.  So  we  see  that  was  all  for  obedience.  But 
the  faith  and  obedience  went  together. 

Let  us  look  a  moment  at  God's  words,  when  speaking 
to  Abraham,  he  says,  "thine  only  son."  How  was 
he  the  only  son  when  we  read  a  few  verses  before  where 
Abraham  sent  Hagar  and  his  son  away  from  his  care. 

Why  did  God  say,  "thine  only  son?" 

Because  the  son  of  the  bond-woman  was  born  from 
the  lust  of  the  flesh,  and  Isaac  was  the  son  by  promise 
from  God.  Then  came  Sarah's  death  and  burial. 
There  are  very  few  burials  spoken  of  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment. 

How  persistent  and  firm  Abraham  was  about  pos- 
sessing and  paying  for  a  burial  place  for  himself  and 
family. 

Abraham  died  in  a  good  old  age  and  was  buried 


62  The  Spirit  Father 

beside  Sarah.  God  had  blessed  Abraham  with  plenty 
of  all  this  world's  goods,  for  he  was  a  rich  man,  and 
had  great  possessions,  and  he  had  all  the  worldly 
blessing  a  good  father  could  give  to  a  son.  But  there 
was  no  promise  in  all  he  had  of  an  everlasting  life, 
but  that  God  would  count  his  obedience  and  faith 
for  righteousness,  and  would  hold  him  in  everlasting 
remembrance.  That  meant  that  Abraham  could  not 
be  promised  sah-ation  under  the  natural  law.  But 
God  would  remember  him  under  the  new  covenant 
or  spiritual  law  that  was  to  be  made  with  man. 

Abraham  gave  all  he  had  to  Isaac  but  to  his  other 
sons  he  gave  only  gifts  and  sent  them  away. 

Another  type  of  God's  dealings  with  his  children — 
Christ  was  the  child  of  promise,  the  lawful  heir,  the 
first  begotten  of  the  new  covenant,  and  the  first  fruits 
of  the  resurrection  of  the  spiritual  man.  (The  rest 
of  the  human  race  represents  the  children  of  the  bond- 
woman— all  begotten  from  the  seed  of  man  in  the 
lust  of  the  flesh). 

So  all  the  kingdoms  belong  to  Christ  as  the  lawful 
heir,  and  by  his  victory  over  the  flesh  and  the  world, 
he  conquered  Satan.  But  all  the  rest  of  God's  children 
will  get  their  gifts,  and  their  portion  shall  be  whatever 
the  father  finds  them  worthy  of. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


ISAAC    AND    REBEKAH. 


Abraham  wanted  a  wife  for  his  son,  Isaac,  and  he 
called  the  oldest  servant  of  his  house,  one  that  had 
been  ruler  over  all  that  he  had.  This  is  another 
emblem  of  God's  care  when  he  has  work  to  do.  He 
takes  his  trusted  servants  to  do  it  for  him.  So  Abra- 
ham told  his  servant  that  he  wished  him  to  go  back 
into  the  land  that  God  had  commanded  him  to  leave. 

He  would  not  go  back  himself,  nor  let  his  son  go, 
but  he  wanted  a  wife  from  there  for  his  son.  Although 
he  had  lived  many  years  among  the  people  and  in  the 
country  he  was  in,  he  would  not  have  a  wife  chosen 
from  among  them  for  his  son  Isaac.  He  did  not  trouble 
himself  about  from  where  any  of  his  other  sons  took  a 
wife  as  far  as  we  know. 

But  the  servant  asked  Abraham  if  the  woman  was 
not  willing  to  follow  him  without  seeing  his  son,  would 
he  take  his  son  back  into  that  country  to  let  her  see 
him,  then  she  might  be  willing  to  follow  him. 

But  Abraham  said,  "Beware  that  you  do  not  take 
my  son  back  there  again,  for  the  Lord  God  of  Heaven 
which  took  me  from  my  father's  house,  and  from  the 
land  of  my  kindred,  said  that  unto  me  and  my  seed 
he  would  give  this  land.  The  Lord  will  send  an  angel 
before  thee,  and  thou  wilt  bring  from  there  a  wife 

63 


64  The  Spirit  Father 

for  my  son;  but  swear  unto  me  that  thou  wilt  not 
take  my  son  back  to  that  land  again.  If  the  woman 
wilt  not  come  with  thee,  thou  shalt  be  freed  from 
thine  oath," 

Oh,  God,  how  many  might  be  willing  to  follow  Christ 
if  some  one  would  only  bring  him  back,  and  let  us  see 
him  with  our  human  eyes.  But  when  Christ  comes 
to  this  earth  again,  it  will  not  be  to  let  us  see  him.  Oh, 
no !  Those  who  have  not  followed  him  by  obedience  and 
faith,  without  seeing  him  in  the  flesh,  will  have  no 
chance  to  follow  him  when  he  comes  as  the  Royal 
King. 

The  servant  went  on  his  master's  business  and  prayed 
God  to  bless  him  in  the  message  he  was  going  on. 
God  heard  his  prayer  and  answered  him.  He  got 
into  the  City  of  Nahor  about  the  time  that  the  woman 
went  out  to  draw  water  from  the  well.  And  while 
he  stood,  Rebekah,  the  daughter  of  Abraham's  brother, 
came  to  the  well,  and  Abraham's  servant  saw  she 
was  very  fair  and  beautiful  to  look  upon,  and  a 
virgin.  The  servant  went  to  meet  her,  and  said, 
"Will  you  let  me  drink  a  little  water  from  thy  pitcher?" 

And  she  said,  "I  will,"  and  handed  him  her  pitcher. 
Then  she  drew  water  for  all  his  camels. 

That  must  have  been  the  woman's  work  in  that  age, 
to  draw  and  water  the  flocks,  as  it  is  woman's  work 
now  to  care  and  tend  the  young  flock  that  God  sends 
them  to  take  care  of  for  him.  If  every  mother  would 
only  know  and  feel  that  every  child  that  God  sends 
to  her  is  only  part  of  the  heritage  of  God — a  part  of 
his  flock — that  she  is  to  take  care  of  for  him,  in  place 


Abraham's  servant  niiM'tiug  Rebekah  at  the  well. 


Isaac  and  Rebekah  65 

of  the  thousands  that  are  doing  their  best  to  destroy 
the  seed  of  the  flocks  of  God,  they  would  do  all  in 
their  power,  with  loving  hearts  and  hands  to  care 
and  tend  the  little  lambs  that  God  sends  to  their  care. 
For  Rebekah 's  kindness,  when  she  had  given  the 
camels  all  they  wanted  to  drink,  the  man  gave  her 
golden  earrings,  and  beautiful  golden  bracelets  of 
great  weight.  They  must  have  been  beautiful,  but 
that  is  nothing  to  what  our  spirit  father  can,  and 
will  dress  us  in,  if  we  will  willingly  go  back  to  the 
bosom  of  the  father  from  whence  we  came. 

But  only  Christ  can  lead  us  there.  That  is  why 
he  says,  "Follow  me,  and  I  will  guide  you  home." 

The  man  asked  Rebekah  whose  daughter  she  was, 
and  if  there  was  room  in  her  father's  house  for  them. 
She  said,  "we  have  all  you  need,  come  in." 

Just  as  Christ  is  saying  to-day,  there  is  plenty  for 
all  and  to  spare,  in  our  heavenly  father's  home,  "come 
in." 

Abraham's  servant  had  asked  God  to  lead  him  in 
the  right  way,  and  to  the  right  place. 

Neither  Abraham  nor  his  servant  knew  who  the 
woman  was  that  was  to  be  Isaac's  wife,  so  far  as  we 
are  told,  only  that  he  must  take  him  a  wife  for  his 
promised  son  out  of  the  seed  of  his  own  kindred  for 
the  seed  had  to  be  kept  pure.  And  when  the  servant 
told  Rebekah 's  people  what  he  came  for,  they  told 
him  there  was  Rebekah,  "Take  her." 

And  when  all  was  ready  her  people  did  not  want 
to  let  her  go  for  a  few  days,  they  wanted  to  keep  her 
just  ten  days  more.     But  the  servant  said,  "I  cannot 


66  The  Spirit  Father 

tarry ;  I  must  go  back  to  my  master. "  Then  her  people 
said,  "We  will  ask  Rebekah  if  she  will  go  with  the 
man."  And  she  said,  "I  will  go,"  and  arose  and 
went. 

Oh,  how  human!  An  emblem  of  our  daily  life, 
when  the  spirit  is  calling  any  of  our  loved  ones  to  follow 
Jesus,  although  we  know  they  are  ready  to  go  we  would 
like  to  keep  them  if  we  are  not  following  him  ourselves. 

But  when  the  father's  messenger  says,  "I  cannot 
wait;  I  must  get  back  to  my  master,"  we  will  look 
on  our  loved  ones  and  say,  "are  you  willing  to  go  and 
leave  us?" 

They  will  look  up  in  our  face  lovingly  and  say, 
"I  am  willing  to  go  with  Jesus  and  I  cannot  come  back, 
but  you  can  follow  Jesus  too,  and  be  with  me." 

Isaac  saw  them  coming  and  went  to  meet  them, 
and  when  he  saw  Rebekah  he  loved  her  and  made 
her  his  wdfe.  An  emblem  here  of  Christ  and  the  new 
covenant. 

Abraham's  servant  met  a  pure  and  good  virgin 
maiden  at  the  well — one  fitted  to  be  the  wife  of  one 
of  the  royal  seed.  And  he  found  her  at  the  well,  going 
to  draw  water.  Then  we  find  Christ,  in  the  new 
covenant,  wearied  with  his  journey  he  sat  down  to  rest 
beside  the  well,  and  there  came  a  woman  to  draw  water 
and  Jesus  asked  her,  as  Abraham's  servant  had 
asked  Rebekah — for  a  drink. 

But  the  difference  between  the  two  women.  The 
first  was  a  pure  virgin,  undefiled,  and  ready  to  be 
taken  into  the  royal  household.  The  other  was  a 
sinner,  and  unclean,  but  Jesus  told  her  if  she  would 


Isaac  and  Rehekah  67 

take  of  the  water  that  he  would  give  her  she  would 
be  made  as  pure  and  clean,  and  fit  for  the  royal  house- 
hold as  the  maiden  that  had  never  lost  her  purity. 

How  is  it  that  all  the  great  events  that  we  read  about 
in  the  Bible  has  water  in  connection  with  them  in 
Bome  way? 

Because  nothing  that  is  unclean  can  be  purified 
without  water, — the  water  and  the  blood.  This  lesson 
brings  before  us  the  three  conditions  of  God's  spirit 
family  in  their  human  garments.  First,  Adam  and 
Eve  in  their  virginal  purity  in  their  first  created  state, 
direct  from  the  hand  of  God.  Then  the  fallen  man 
and  woman,  the  sinner  in  their  impure  condition,  then 
the  sinner  meeting  Jesus  and  being  restored  to  virginal 
purity  by  drinking  of  the  living  water  from  Christ 
(the  word  of  God).  Nearly  all  the  lessons  in  the  Bible 
embraces  the  three  dispensations — the  past,  present, 
and  future. 

And  unless  you  join  the  three  subjects  together  you 
cannot  fathom  the  Bible  truths.  "But  find  the  truth, 
and  the  truth  shall  make  you  free,"  the  truth  can 
only  be  found  in  Christ.  All  the  hidden  truths 
are  hid  in  Him.  So,  dear  reader,  seek  to  know 
Christ,  for  he  is  ever  willing  to  be  known  of  you,  and 
to  give  you  the  light  into  the  hidden  truth  of  the  plan 
of  God's  redemption  for  man.  And  you  own  a  part 
of  the  work  in  that  plan.  Isaac  was  forty  years  old 
when  he  took  Rebekah  to  wife,  and  he  found  she  was 
barren.  And  he  prayed  to  the  Lord  to  open  her 
womb  and  the  Lord  answered  his  prayer,  for  she 
conceived.     (Another  answer  to  prayer.)     It  has  been 


68  The  Spirit  Father 

from  the  barren  or  virgin  womb  that  God  has.  brought 
his  chosen  seed. 

And  when  Rebekah  found  she  had  conceived,  and 
did  not  feel  right,  she  went  to  inquire  of  the  Lord 
what  was  the  matter.  She  did  not  go  to  the  doctor 
as  so  many  go  now,  but  went  to  the  Lord,  and  he  told 
her  there  was  nothing  the  matter,  only  that  she  was 
with  twins,  and  that  two  different  manner  of  people 
would  come  from  her  womb.  Let  us  see  what  this  lesson 
typifies.  The  first  born,  Esau,  was  clothed  with  hairy 
garments,  and  Jacob  vnih  a  smooth  garment. 

God  said  they  would  be  two  different  nations  and 
two  different  people,  and  that  the  one  people  would 
be  stronger  than  the  other. 

We  have  a  great  light  from  the  word  twins !  Every 
woman  that  conceives  and  bears  a  child  has  brought 
forth  twins, — and  of  two  nations — the  spirit  child  of 
the  heaven — heavenly,  and  the  natural  child  of  the 
earth — earthly.  Twins,  but  in  one  body,  two  natures. 
And  the  one  will  be  stronger  than  the  other.  An 
emblem  of  Adam  and  Christ — Adam  in  his  human 
weakness;  Christ  in  his  spiritual  strength. 

If  we  feed  and  train  the  spiritual  nature  (child), 
that  will  be  the  stronger,  or  if  we  feed  and  train  the 
human  nature  that  will  be  the  strongest; — two  different 
powers  striving  in  the  one  body. — The  boys  grew  up 
to  manhood,  and  Esau  was  a  great  hunter, — a  man  of  the 
field.  Esau  represents  the  animal  man  hunting  the  hu- 
man flesh,  and  we  have  plenty  of  Esau's  brothers  in  the 
world  at  the  present  age,  hunters  after  the  human  flesh. 
Jacob,  as  the  plain  man,  living  in  a  tent,  represents  the 


Isaac  and  Rebekah  69 

spirit  indwelling  in  the  body,  the  spirit  child  of  God, 

Jacob  had  made  pottage  one  day,  when  Esau  came 
in  from  the  field  hungry  he  asked  Jacob  to  feed  him 
with  some  of  the  pottage,  but  Jacob  said,  "sell  me  your 
birthright."  And  Esaw  sold  his  birthright  for  what 
he  could  get  to  eat  and  drink.  Typical  of  Adam 
selling  his  spiritual  brithright  by  eating  the  forbidden 
fruit.  As  tens  of  thousands  are  selling  their  spiritual 
birthright  in  this  generation  by  eating  the  forbidden 
fruits,  selling  their  birthright  to  salvation  and  eternal 
life. 

I  wonder  how  many  really  understand  what  the 
selling  of  their  spiritual  birthright,  or  the  losing  of 
their  soul's  salvation  means.  I  doubt  it,  or  they 
would  not  rest  so  easy  in  their  lost  condition. 

There  came  a  great  famine  in  the  land  and  the 
Lord  told  Isaac  to  go  to  the  land  that  he  told  him  of, 
and  he  would  have  plenty,  but  not  to  go  to  Egypt 
again,  and  he  would  bless  him,  and  bless  his  seed,  and 
would  fulfill  to  him  all  the  promises  made  to  Abraham, 
his  father. 

God  said  he  was  giving  all  those  blessings  to  Isaac 
and  his  seed  because  Abraham  had  obeyed  his  voice, 
and  kept  his  charges,  and  his  commandments,  his  stat- 
utes and  his  laws. 

Isaac  did  as  the  Lord  commanded  him  and  sowed 
in  that  land  and  received  in  that  year  an  hundred-fold. 

And  the  Lord  blessed  him,  and  he  waxed  great,  and 
had  great  possessions, — of  flocks  and  herds,  and  a 
great  many  servants.  Then  his  neighbors  began  to 
envy  him,  they  filled  up  the  wells,  and  told  him  to  go, 


70  The  Spirit  Father 

for  he  was  so  much  mightier  than  they,  they  did 
not  want  him  amongst  them.  The  Lord  appeared 
to  Isaac  again,  and  told  him  to  fear  not,  for  he  would 
be  with  him.  What  have  we  to  fear  if  we  have  God 
with  us?  Nothing.  Isaac  was  getting  old,  and  his 
eyesight  was'dimmed,  he  knew  he  was  soon  going  to 
die.  But  the  animal  man  in  him  wanted  another 
feed  of  venison  before  he  died.  (There  was  no  thought 
of  spiritual  things  with  the  people  in  that  dispensation.) 
But  they  knew^more  than  the  majority  of  the  people 
in  this  dispensation. 

They  knew  they  were  in  that  condition  by  God's 
decree,  for  man's  sin.  They  were  in  darkness,  and 
under  the  shadow  of  the  spiritual  death. 

Their  spirits  were  in  prison,  that  means  the  spirit 
within  them  was  in  bondage  to  the  natural  or  animal 
life.  Their  spirits  were  held  in  a  slumbering  and  sleep- 
ing condition.  This  is  symbolical  of  the  spirits  in  hell 
that  Christ  liberated  when  he  rose  from  the  grave. 

All  the  spirits  that  had  been  clothed  in  the  human 
garments  under  the  natural  law,  would  be  released 
and  clothed  in  the  human  garment  again  under  the 
spiritual  law,  with  the  way  opened  to  them  to  work 
out  their  own  salvation,  by  faith  and  obedience  to  the 
Father's  commands  as  taught  by  Christ.  Not  as  they 
were  taught  by  Moses,  that  was  laws  for  the  natural 
man.  Christ  taught  from  and  for  the  spiritual  side 
of  life,  the  commands  and  laws  of  God  to  the  spiritual 
man.  Isaac  wished  to  bless  Esau  before  he  died, 
but  Rebekah  loved  her  youngest  son  best,  and  wanted 
him   to  get  the  blessing  promised  Esau.     She  sent 


Isaac  and  Rebekah  71 

Jacob  for  two  kids,  and  got  them  ready,  and  wanted 
Jacob  to  take  it  in  to  his  father.  But  he  said  he  could 
not,  for  his  father  would  feel  him  and  know  he  was 
not  Esau.  His  father  would  know  he  was  deceiving 
him  and  he  would  bring  upon  himself  a  curse  instead 
of  a  blessing.  But  his  mother  told  him  to  obey  her. 
Rebekah  may  have  known  that  Jacob  was  the  chosen 
of  God. 

So  she  prepared  the  meat,  then  put  skins  of  the 
goats  on  him,  so  that  his  father  might  think  it  was 
his  son  Esau.  He  brought  the  meat  to  his  father, 
his  father  felt  of  him  and  thought  it  was  Esau.  He 
kissed  him  and  blessed  him.  But  Jacob  had  hardly 
passed  out  from  his  father's  presence  when  Esau 
came  with  his  venison,  and  said,  "Eat,  father,  that  thy 
soul  may  bless  me."  When  Isaac  knew  what  had 
been  done  to  him,  he  trembled  and  said,  "Thy  brother 
hath  deceived  me."  How  many  earthly  fathers  are 
trembling  to-day  when  they  find  they  have  been 
deceived  by  their  children  only  God  knows. 

When  Esau  was  told  his  brother  had  taken  his 
blessing  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  wept,  and  cried, 
"Father,  have  you  only  one  blessing?" 

His  father  looked  upon  him  in  his  sorrow,  and  loved 
him,  and  gave  him  another  blessing. 

Oh,  the  multitudes  that  think  God,  their  spirit 
father,  has  blessings  only  for  a  chosen  number.  And 
they  think  it  is  no  use  trying  to  change  their  way  of 
living,  or  seek  a  blessing  for  it  cannot  be  for  them. 

If  Esau  had  turned  away  when  he  was  told  his 
brother  had  come  before  him  and  got  the  blessing, 
he  would  never  have  been  blest. 


72  '  The  Spirit  Father 

But  he  cried  at  once  to  the  father  and  received  his 
blessing.  This  lesson  represents  God  blessing  the 
spiritual  child  first,  then  the  natural  child. 

That  is  all  any  of  God's  children  have  to  do,  for  we 
are  all  the  children  of  God,  no  matter  how  sinful  we 
are. 

But  we  cannot  go  back  to  that  father  unless  we 
repent, — lift  up  our  eyes  to  God,  and  weep  over  our 
sins  and  lost  life,  and  ask  our  father  for  his  blessing 
for  Christ's  sake.  And  v,e  will  get  the  blessing  sure 
for  he  does  not  say  a  few  will  get  it,  but  who-so-ever 
will,  all,  all  that  mil  come. 

And  Isaac  called  Jacob  and  charged  him  that  he 
should  not  take  a  wife  from  the  daughters  of  Cannan, 
but  to  go  back  to  his  mother's  kindred  and  take  a 
wife  from  among  her  people,  and  the  Lord  would  give 
him  Abraham's  blessing. 

We  see  another  seed  for  the  royal  house  had  to  be 
found. 

But  Esau  took  wives  from  the  daughters  of  Cannan. 

When  Jacob  was  on  his  way  he  stopped  at  a  certain 
place  and  rested  over  night,  and  while  he  slept  God 
spoke  to  him,  and  renewed  the  promise  he  had  made 
to  Abraham  and  his  seed.  He  said  they  would  be 
spread  all  over  the  earth,  and  that  he  would  be  with 
him  wherever  he  went.  Jacob  made  a  vow  that  if 
God  would  give  him  plenty  of  bread  to  eat  and  raiment 
to  wear,  and  bring  him  back  again  to  his  father's 
house  in  peace,  the  Lord  Wi>uld  be  his  God — and  of  all 
that  God  would  give  him  he  would  give  him  back  the 
tenth. 


Isaac  and  Rehekah  73 

"How  many  to-day  would  be  willing  to  take  God 
for  their  God  if  he  will  only  give  them  all  they  want. 
But  they  would  not  be  willing  to  give  back  to  God 
what  he  wants. 

It  is  not  the  tenth  of  the  temporal  things  we  possess, 
that  God  requires  from  his  children.  In  the  spiritual 
dispensation  he  first  requires  that  we  do  not  rob  him 
of  what  is  his  own  (our  spirit)  for  if  we  let  Satan  get 
it,  then  we  are  robbing  God  of  what  is  his  own.  And 
the  only  way  we  can  restore  the  spirit  to  God  is  by 
believing  in  Christ  and  confessing  he  is  the  son  of 
God,  come  in  the  flesh,  for  every  spirit  that  confesses 
Christ  has  come  in  the  flesh  is  of  God.  So  the  first 
acceptable  gift  we  can  offer  to  God  is  the  restoration 
of  our  spirit,  then  our  soul  the  human  life,  then  the 
last  to  be  restored  out  of  Satan's  hands  is  the  human 
body. 

All  that  can  ever  be  restored  to  its  original  or 
primitive  state  is  heaven,  earth  and  man. 

Only  that  which  is  God's  and  the  things  created  by 
his  own  hands  will  ever  be  restored  to  their  normal 
condition.  No  work  or  anything  created  or  invented 
by  the  hand  or  mind  of  man  will  ever  be  restored  to 
its  original  state.  Every  step  that  man  takes  forward 
with  his  inventive  powers  is  only  a  step  in  God's  work. 

The  bringing  to  light, — the  great  power  and  use 
of  electricity,  it  is  one  of  the  greatest  powers  ever 
invented  by  man  under  God,  and  it  is  only  in  its  infancy 
as  yet.  And  another  great  power  that  will  be  made 
great  use  of  by  man  under  God,  is  the  generating  of 
our  small  water-courses  into  great  bodies  to  be  used 


74  The  Spirit  Father 

as  power.  These  are  steps  in  the  forwarding  of  God's 
plan,  in  the  preparing  of  the  world  for  God's  own 
use,  when  Satan  and  all  his  powers  will  be  removed 
from  earth.  And  many  of  the  great  men  that  God 
is  using  in  this  work  at  the  present  age  may  not  be 
permitted  to  dwell  on  earth  in  the  coming  age,  for  only 
God's  redeemed  children,  with  Christ  as  their  king, 
will  inhabit  the  earth. 

All  this  labor  and  toil  that  is  being  done  by  man 
now  to  bring  these  things  into  existence,  will  not  have 
to  be  endured  by  God's  children  when  he  sends  them 
to  earth  again. 

They  will  not  have  to  labor  and  toil  in  the  way  they 
do  now,  for  God  is  preparing  all  things  for  their  com- 
fort for  he  is  a  good  and  loving  father,  and  those  that 
go  back  to  him  on  his  own  condition  will  have  their 
reward.  The  heart  of  man  can  never  conceive  what 
God  has  in  store  for  them  that  love  and  obey  him. 

And  Jacob  went  on  his  journey  till  he  came  into  the 
land  he  was  going  to,  and  he  came  to  a  well,  there  he 
saw  Rachel  coming  with  her  father's  sheep.  (Another 
well  and  water.)  See,  all  the  covenants  have  water 
with  them. 

Then  Jacob  kissed  Rachel  and  then  wept,  he  was 
so  overjoyed  to  be  among  his  own  kindred. 

When  he  saw  Rachel  he  loved  her  and  told  her 
father  he  would  serve  seven  years  for  her,  for  a  wife. 
And  the  seven  years  seemed  only  a  few  days  to  him, 
for  the  prize  he  was  serving  for  was  one  that  his  soul 
desired. 

It  would  be  just  the  same  with  us  if  we  could  only 


Isaac  and  Rebekah  75 

realize  the  great  prize  God  has  set  before  us,  in  offering 
us  salvation  for  our  souls. 

No  weeks  or  months  or  years  would  seem  long  or 
hard  for  us  to  serve  God  for  the  prize  he  has  offered, 
— everlasting  life.  Let  us  only  think  of  it.  A  few 
years  here  in  this  world,  no  matter  how  long  our  life 
may  be,  is  only  as  a  day  when  we  compare  it  with  the 
life  everlasting. 

Rachel's  father  deceived  Jacob  when  the  seven 
years  were  up,  and  gave  him  Leah,  Rachel's  sister,  for 
his  wife,  but  Jacob  loved  Rachel  and  served  seven 
years  more  for  her. 

After  she  was  given  to  Jacob  to  wife  and  Leah  saw 
that  Jacob  loved  Rachel  and  hated  her,  she  was  in 
sorrow  for  she  was  forced  upon  Jacob  by  her  father. 
God  pitied  her  as  he  ever  does  every  one  of  his  children 
in  their  sorrow. 

If  we  could  only  realize  the  mercy  and  love  of  our 
spirit  father,  a  love  that  passeth  all  understanding. 

But  how  man  in  these  times  say  because  God  is 
so  loving  and  merciful,  that  they  think  they  can  hide 
their  sinful  lives  behind  the  very  compassion  and  love 
of  God,  when  it  is  his  very  love  and  justice  to  us  that 
makes  him  punish  us,  and  his  punishment  is  just  as 
sure  as  his  love. 

God  pitied  Leah,  and  opened  her  womb  and  she 
conceived  and  bore  children  to  Jacob.  And  she  said, 
"Now  my  husband  will  love  me." 

If  the  women  of  this  generation  could  only  feel  and 
see  as  Leah,  their  husbands  would  love  them  more 
and  respect  them,  as  every  good  man  is  bound  to 


76  The  Spirit  Father 

respect  a  good  woman.  But  what  man,  either  good 
or  bad,  could  long  love  or  respect  any  woman  guilty 
of  destroying  the  issue  of  his  loins,  or  the  fruit  of  her 
own  womb?  Even  our  doctors  and  professional  men, 
who  make  that  a  part  of  their  practice  for  the  money 
it  brings  them, — in  their  hearts — if  they  have  any, 
despise  the  very  women  they  help  to  commit  the  sin. 
Rachel  was  barren  also,  and  she  envied  her  sister,  and 
went  and  said  to  her  husband,  "Jacob,  give  me  children 
or  else  I  will  die."  He  was  angry  with  her,  and  said, 
"Am  I  God?  He  it  is  who  hath  withheld  the  fruit 
of  thy  womb." 

If  men  and  women  could  only  understand  that  they 
can  lift  their  hands  at  any  time  to  destroy  the  fruit, 
but  cannot  make  it  grow.  The  hands  that  are  engaged 
in  such  work  are  red  with  sin  and  murder.  But  the 
Lord  opened  Rachel's  womb  when  he  required  the 
fruit,  for  she  conceived,  and  bore  Joseph,  another  one 
that  was  to  play  a  prominent  part  in  that  generation 
of  the  Bible  history. 

And  God  sent  an  angel  to  tell  Jacob  to  take  his 
wives  and  all  his  possessions  and  return  to  the  land 
of  his  kindred.  And  Jacob  got  all  ready  and  returned, 
and  on  his  way  ^the  angels  of  God  met  him,  and 
when  he  saw  them,  he  said,  "This  is  God's  host." 
Jacob  had  been  afraid  of  his  brother  Esau,  for  Esau 
had  been  angry  with  him  and  vowed  to  kill  him. 

But  God  had  taken  all  the  evil  desire  out  of  Esau's 
heart  against  his  brother  and  he  went  out  to  meet 
him.  When  he  saw  Jacob  and  all  his  family  and 
flocks,   he   wondered,    for   God   had   blessed   him   so 


Isaac  and  Rebekah  77 

abundantly  that  he  asked,  "Who  are  all  those  that 
art  with  thee?"  And  Jacob  said,  "The  children  which 
God  has  given  to  me." 

And  Jocob  offered  his  brother  large  presents,  but 
he  would  not  take  them,  for  God  had  made  him  rich 
also  in  worldly  goods.  And  Jacob  settled  once  more 
in  Bethel  and  dwelt  there. 

And  he  told  all  his  household  to  put  away  every 
strange  god  that  was  amongst  them,  and  to  change 
their  garments. 

That  is  what  we  all  have  to  do  when  we  give  up 
serving  the  God  of  earth  and  turn  to  the  God  of  heaven. 
Wash  and  cleanse  our  garments — our  flesh — and  let 
us  go,  as  Jacob  was  going  with  all  his  people,  to 
worship  God  who  had  answered  him  in  the  days  of 
his  distress,  and  led  him  out  of  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
The  reconciliation  between  Esau  and  Jacob  represents 
the  reconciling  again,  under  God,  of  the  natural  and 
spiritual  life  in  man,  or  the  reconciling  of  the  two 
natures  in  one  body,  and  brought  into  subjection 
to  God. 

God  appeared  unto  Jacob  there,  and  said  unto  him, 
"Your  name  shall  be  no  more  called  Jacob,  but  shall 
be  called  Isreal." 

We  see  that  God  had  tried  him  and  found  him 
obedient  as  he  did  Abraham,  his  father. 

In  reading  the  Bible  we  will  see  that  all  God's  dealing 
this  far  with  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob  has  only  been 
telling  them  to  do  what  he  wanted,  and  they  had  done 
it  and  God  blessed  them  with  all  he  promised — riches, 
and  families,  cattle  and  flocks, — all  temporal  blessings. 


78  The  Spirit  Father 

Esau  and  Jacob  were  so  rich  in  their  possessions 
that  they  could  not  dwell  in  the  same  land  together. 
The  people  of  that  land  could  not  bear  them  because 
of  all  their  cattle. 

Isaac  died,  and  was  gathered  home  to  his  people. 


CHAPTER  X. 


JOSEPH. 


We  find  in  Joseph's  history  another  emblem  of 
Christ. 

Joseph  was  about  seventeen  years  old,  and  he  helped 
to  take  care  of  his  father's  flocks.  His  father  loved 
him  more  than  any  of  his  other  children,  for  he  was 
the  son  of  his  old  age.  If  we  look  back  to  our  spirit 
father's  life  and  all  the  hundreds  of  years — if  only  from 
Adam's  time,  that  he  bore  with  his  rebellious  children 
— Christ  must  have  been  the  beloved  son  of  his  old 
age.  For  although  the  spirit  never  dies  it  grows  older 
with  years.  The  very  spiritual  wisdom  and  under- 
standing that  grows  with  God's  people,  as  they  grow 
to  old  age,  would  show  us  that  if  nothing  else. 

Joseph  was  the  beloved  son  of  his  father,  and  he 
made  him  a  coat  of  many  colors ;  and  when  his  brothers 
saw  that  their  father  loved  him,  they  hated  him. 
Another  emblem  of  Christ's  life. 

Joseph  dreamed  a  dream,  and  he  told  it  to  his 
brethren,  and  they  hated  him  still  more,  and  said, 
how  dare  he  ever  think  his  father  and  mother  and 
brethren  would  bow  down  themselves  to  him.  They 
grew  to  hate  him  so  that  they  conspired  to  kill  him. 

Just  what  Christ's  brethren  did  to  him. 

But  one  of  Joseph's  brothers  said,  **Let  us  not  kill 

79 


80  The  Spirit  Father 

him,  but  sell  him."  So  they  sold  him  for  twenty 
pieces  of  silver — ten  less  than  Christ  was  sold  for. 
And  they  brought  word  to  the  father  that  Joseph 
was  lost,  his  father  thought  he  was  dead,  and  grieved 
sorely  for  him. 

But  God  had  Joseph  carried  safely  into  Egypt  and 
blessed  him.  Joseph  did  everything  that  was  right 
before  God,  and  God  prospered  him  in  all  that  he  did. 

He  became  a  great  interpreter. 

He  interpreted  all  Pharaoh's  dreams  for  him.  And 
Pharaoh  said,  "This  man  has  the  spirit  of  God  in  him 
and  I  set  him  over  all  my  house,  and  over  all  my 
people."  Pharaoh  put  his  own  ring  on  Joseph's  hand, 
and  arrayed  him  in  vestures  of  finest  linen,  and  put 
chains  of  gold  upon  his  neck;  gave  him  the  second 
chariot  to  ride  in;  had  the  people  bow  their  knee  to 
him,  and  made  him  ruler  over  all  the  land  of  Egypt. 
Pharaoh  said,  "Thou  shalt  be  niler  over  all,  and 
according  to  thy  word  shall  all  my  people  be  ruled,  and 
only  on  the  throne  shall  I  be  greater  than  thee." 
(Pharaoh  reserved  the  right  of  the  throne  to  himself.) 
Look  for  a  moment  at  father  and  son  in  the  new 
covenant,  God  gave  all  power  to  his  son  Christ,  but 
has  reserved  the  right  to  answer  all  our  petitions  and 
prayers  from  the  throne  himself,  but  we  can  only  get 
answers  by  asking  in  Jesus'  name,  and  for  Jesus'  sake. 
For  as  Joseph  stood  with  all  power  at  that  time  between 
Pharaoh  and  the  people,  so  Christ  stands  at  this  age 
between  man  and  God. 

Pharaoh  said,  "Without  thy  command  no  man  shall 
lift  hand  or  foot  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt." 


Joseph  81 

Joseph  was  thirty  years  old  when  he  stood  before 
Pharaoh  to  receive  his  final  instructions  to  go  out 
through  the  land  of  Egypt  to  gather  in  the  harvest. 

He  gathered  in  the  corn  until  he  had  so  much  that 
he  could  not  number  it,  for  it  was  as  much  as  the  sands 
of  the  sea.  And  he  went  to  all  the  cities  and  left 
food  in  them,  food  to  feed  the  flesh.  But  Christ 
went  through  all  the  cities  leaving  food  for  the  spirit. 

And  Pharaoh  changed  Joseph's  name  to  Zaphnath- 
paaneah  (another  emblem  of  Christ). 

We  read  how  God  has  changed  the  name  of  nearly 
all  those  he  has  chosen  for  any  great  work. 

In  those  times,  before  Pharaoh  made  him  ruler  over 
all  his  possessions,  he  had  found  him  faithful  in  all 
he  had  done.  Joseph  had  won  his  high  position  by 
his  own  faithfulness. 

See  what  he  was  made  ruler  over. 

His  rule  was  to  be  over  all  things  earthly,  that  waa 
the  highest  position  Pharaoh  could  give  him,  for 
Pharaoh  was  of  the  earthy  himself. 

In  this  history  of  Joseph  we  have  one  of  the  grandest 
typical  lessons  to  be  found  in  all  the  Bible. 

Christ  was  thirty  years  old  when  he  came  and  stood 
before  God  at  the  river  Jordan.  For  the  spirit  of 
God  was  at  the  river  just  as  real  as  if  he  stood  there  in 
the  flesh  and  blood  body.  God's  chosen  prophet  was 
there  doing  the  work  that  God  had  chosen  him  to  do. 
And  wherever  God's  own  servants  are,  and  his  work 
going  on,  there  the  spirit  of  God  will  be  also. 

While  Joseph  was  gathering  in  the  rich  harvest  in 
the  land  of  Egypt  there  was  a  famine  in  the  land  of 


82  The  Spirit  Father 

Canaan,  and  Joseph's  brethren  went  down  to  Egypt 
to  buy  corn,  not  knowing  their  brother  Joseph  was 
there,  and  when  they  saw  him  they  did  not  know  him. 

Another  emblem  of  Christ.  For  when  his  brethren 
saw  him,  when  he  had  taken  on  his  new  life,  they  did 
not  know  him ;  an  emblem  of  many  others  in  the  world 
to-day.  Our  own  people  do  not  know  us  when  we 
have  given  up  the  life  of  the  world  and  sin,  and  put 
on  the  new  life  in  Christ. 

They  think  we  are  the  same,  yet  not  the  same,  they 
do  not  know  what  to  make  of  us,  for  they  do  not 
understand  the  new  life  in  us. 

Joseph  knew  his  brethren,  and  although  they  had 
conspired  against  him  and  wanted  to  kill  him,  when 
he  saw  them  his  heart  went  out  to  them  in  love. 

As  Joseph  was  the  governor  over  the  land  and  it 
was  his  place  to  sell  to  all  the  people,  his  brethren  came 
and  bowed  down  before  him. 

Then  he  remembered  his  dreams,  and  what  they 
had  said,  so  he  thought  he  would  try  them. 

He  said  to  them,  "Ye  are  spies  come  to  see  what 
you  can  see  in  the  land."  But  they  said,  "Nay,  nay, 
Lord,  we  are  true  men,  and  all  one  man's  sons,  come 
to  buy  food,  and  we  are  twelve  brethren,  our  father 
and  the  youngest  son  is  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  one 
is  dead." 

But  Joseph  said,  "I  think  you  are  spies,  and  I  will 
prove  you,  you  shall  not  go  from  here  except  your 
youngest  brother  come  here.  Send  one  of  you  and 
let  him  bring  your  brother.  Ye  shall  be  kept  in 
prison  until  we  find  that  you  are  true  men."     And 


Joseph  83 

he  put  them  all  into  prison  for  three  days.  He  said 
to  them  on  the  third  day,  "Your  families  may  be  in 
want,  and  1  am  a  man  that  fears  God,  so  leave  one 
of  your  brethren  here  in  prison,  and  go  carry  corn 
to  your  house;  but  bring  your  youngest  brother  to 
me,  that  your  words  may  be  verified — and  ye  shall  not 
die." 

They  said  to  one  another,  "Oh,  we  are  guilty,  for 
what  we  have  done  to  our  brother  Joseph,  for  when 
we  saw  the  anguish  of  his  soul  and  he  besought  us,  we 
would  not  hear  him,  and  that  is  the  reason  this  trouble 
is  come  upon  us.  They  did  not  know  that  Joseph 
understood  them  for  he  had  spoken  to  them  through 
an  interpreter;  when  he  heard  them  speaking  of  him- 
self, he  turned  away  and  wept. 

He  took  from  them  one  of  the  brothers  and  bound 
him  before  their  eyes.  Then  gave  them  all  the  corn 
they  could  carry  and  sent  them  back  to  their  father. 
They  told  their  father  all  that  had  happened  to  them. 
He  said,  "Ye  have  bereaved  me  of  my  children.  Joseph 
is  gone,  Simeon  is  gone,  and  you  want  to  take  Benjamin 
away!" 

"All  these  things  are  against  me.  If  I  be  bereaved 
of  my  children,  I  am  bereaved  indeed."  Oh!  if  we 
could  only  hear  the  cry  of  our  spirit  father,  in  the  cry 
of  Jacob.  Our  spirit  father  sent  out  his  spirit 
children  pure  from  himself,  clothed  in  the  garments 
of  flesh,  and  they  are  taken  and  bound  in  the  chains 
of  the  world  by  Satan  and  sin  through  the  flesh,  until 
they  are  unclean  and  unfit  to  return  to  the  home  of 
their  father.     Can  we  not  hear  the  cry  of  that  heavenly 


84  The  Spirit  Father 

father, — "If  I  am  bereaved  of  my  children,  I  am 
bereaved  indeed."  Oh!  I  think  as  I  write  this  I  can 
hear  that  cry,  and  see  the  loving  arms  outstretched 
to  gather  the  returning  prodigal  son  into  his  bosom. 

But  Joseph's  brethren  had  to  go  back  to  Egypt 
again,  for  their  corn  was  gone,  and  Jacob  had  to  let 
them  take  Benjamin  down  \nth  them.  For  Joseph 
said  they  should  not  see  his  face  again,  unless  they 
brought  their  youngest  brother  with  them.  When 
Joseph  saw  Benjamin  with  them  he  told  his  ser\'ant 
to  bring  them  right  into  his  home,  and  to  make  all 
ready  for  the  men  to  dine  with  him.  They  were 
afraid  and  began  to  tell' him  they  had  brought  back 
all  the  money  that  they  found  in  the  sacks,  and  more 
to  buy  with. 

But  he  said,  "Peace  be  to  you,  fear  not,  your  God 
and  the  God  of  your  father's  hath  given  you  treasures 
in  your  sacks." 

Then  he  brought  Simeon,  their  brother,  out  to  them, 
and  gave  them  of  the  best  of  all  he  had,  and  plenty 
to  take  back  again  to  Canaan. 

Still  he  had  not  told  them  who  he  was,  not  until 
they  were  going  away  from  him  again. 

Then  he  could  not  restrain  himself  any  longer.  He 
told  his  servants  to  go  out  and  leave  him  with  his 
brethren,  and  when  he  looked  on  Benjamin  he  wept 
aloud,  and  said,  "I  am  Joseph,  thy  brother,  doth  my 
father  still  live?" 

But  his  brethren  could  not  answer  him  they  were 
so  much  astonished.  Joseph  said  to  them,  "Be  not 
grieved  or  angry  with  yourselves  that  }'ou  sold  me 


Joseph's  lll('r>till^^  witli   his  fiitlicr,  Jacol) 


Joseph  85 

hither,  for  it  was  God  that  sent  me  here,  to  preserve 
life,  and  preserve  you  a  posterity  on  the  earth."  God's 
way  of  preserving  the  promised  seed.  So  you  see  it 
was  not  you  that  sent  me  hither,  but  God. 

"Make  you  haste  and  bring  my  father,  tell  him  that 
his  son  Joseph  lives,  and  God  has  made  him  lord 
over  all  Egypt,  and  for  him  to  come  and  dwell  with 
me. 

"Bring  all  your  families,  and  flocks,  and  I  will 
nourish  you  until  the  famine  is  over." 

When  they  went  to  their  father  and  told  him  Joseph, 
his  son,  was  yet  alive,  Jacob's  heart  fainted,  for  he 
believed  them  not,  but  when  he  believed  his  spirit 
revived,  and  he  said,  "This  is  God's  work,  that  my 
son,  Joseph,  is  alive.  I  will  go  and  see  him  before 
I  die." 

So  Jacob  came  with  his  family  to  Egypt,  and  Joseph 
went  out  to  meet  his  father,  and  when  they  met,  he 
fell  on  his  father's  neck  and  wept. 

Jacob  said,  "Now,  since  I  have  seen  thee  alive,  I 
am  ready  to  die."  (The  words  that  Simeon  spoke 
when  he  saw  Jesus.)  "Promise  me  you  will  take  me 
back  to  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  bury  me  with  my 
kindred.  Bring  me  thy  two  sons  till  I  bless  them," 
and  Jacob  blessed  them  and  embraced  them,  and  said, 
"I  had  not  thought  to  see  thy  face  again,  and  God 
hath  shown  me  thy  seed." 

When  Jacob  was  blessing  Joseph's  sons  he  was 
putting  his  right  hand  on  the  head  of  the  youngest 
son,  and  Joseph  said,  "Not  so,  my  father,  that  is  not 
my  first-born,"  but  his  father  said,  "I  know  my  son, 


86  The  Spirit  Father 

his  brother  shall  have  a  blessing,  too,  but  the  younger 
shall  be  greater  and  his  seed  shall  become  a  multitude 
of  nations."  That  was  the  promise  again  fulfilled  that 
God  made  to  Abraham. 

Now  Jacob  calls  his  sons  to  give  them  his  last  blessing 
and  commands.  We  will  see  what  he  has  to  say  to 
Reuben,  his  first-born,  he  says,  "Thou  art  unstable 
as  water,  thou  shalt  not  excel."  To  Simeon  and 
Levi,  he  said,  "They  were  instruments  of  cruelty." 
And  to  Judah,  "The  scepter  shall  not  depart  from  thee, 
nor  a  lawgiver  till  Shiloh  comes,  and  \mto  him  shall 
the  gathering  of  the  people  be."  And  to  Joseph  he 
says  "Thou  shalt  be  a  fruitful  bough,  but  thou  shalt 
be  hated,  but  the  strength  of  thy  arms  and  hands 
shall  be  made  strong  by  the  hands  of  God."  From 
thence  is  the  shepherd,  the  stone  of  Israel,  and  the 
Almighty  shall  bless  thee  with  the  blessings  of  heaven 
above,  and  blessings  of  the  deep  that  lieth  under  the 
breasts  and  of  the  womb,  for  the  blessings  of  the 
father  hath  prevailed  above  the  blessings  of  my 
progenitors  unto  the  utmost  bounds  of  the  everlasting 
hills,  they  shall  be  on  the  head  of  Joseph,  and  on  the 
crown  of  the  head  of  him  that  was  separated  from  his 
brethren. 

That  is  the  first  reference  we  have  to  Christ,  his  rule 
and  power. 

And  Jacob  said,  "I  am  to  be  gathered  to  my  people, 
bury  me  with  my  fathers,"  and  when  he  had  made  an 
end  of  commanding  his  sons,  he  gathered  up  his  feet 
and  died. 

Do  we  ever  think  when  we  are  reading  about  all 


Joseph  ^  87 

those  people  and  how  they  died,  that  they  all  knew 
when  they  are  going,  and  were  not  in  any  way  troubled 
about  it. 

They  buried  Jacob  and  Joseph  is  left  with  his 
brethren,  they  were  afraid  Joseph  would  hate  them 
for  the  evil  they  had  done  him.  (Oh!  dear  reader, 
when  we  do  evil  the  fear  it  leaves  in  our  hearts.) 

So  they  sent  a  messenger  to  Joseph,  and  asked 
him  to  forgive  them  their  trespasses  and  sin  against 
him.  And  Joseph  wept  when  he  heard  what  they 
said  unto  him,  but  he  said,  "Fear  not  me,  for  I  am  not 
in  the  place  of  God."  That  is  who  we  are  to  fear, 
God,  not  man. 

There  are  tens  and  tens  of  thousands  praying  to 
man  and  woman,  and  forgetting  God — Jesus  tells  us 
to  pray  to  God,  but  to  ask  in  his  name. 

Joseph  lived  to  see  the  third  generation.  He  said 
to  his  brethren,  "I  die,  and  God  will  surely  visit  you 
and  bring  you  back  to  the  land  he  swore  to  give 
Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  and  ye  shall  carry  my 
bones  with  you."  Joseph  died  and  all  his  brethren 
and  all  that  generation.  We  see  generation  after 
generation  died  but  no  promise  or  covenant  of  ever- 
lasting life  for  the  flesh  has  been  spoken  of  as  yet. 
All  God's  deaUngs  with  them  had  been  telling  them 
what  he  wanted  done,  and  they  did  it,  and  lived 
peaceable  lives.  They  had  gotten  all  the  earthly 
blessings  God  had  promised  to  the  children  of  obedience 
and  that  was  all  they  expected.  With  a  promise 
that  God  would  remember  them  for  their  obedience 
and  faith  in,  and  to  him. 


88  The  Spirit  Father 

When  God  called  Moses  to  bring  his  people  out  of 
Egypt  and  gave  to  them  his  laws  and  commands 
through  Moses,  then  began  the  trouble  with  his 
children. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

MOSES. 

In  the  history  of  Moses  and  Pharaoh  we  have  another 
grand  typical  lesson.  It  says,  "There  arose  a  new 
king  over  Egypt,  which  knew  not  Joseph.  And  his 
name  was  Pharaoh,  and  he  was  wicked." 

We  have  just  been  reading  that  this  same  Pharaoh 
was  the  king  that  Joseph  had  lived  with  and  had 
served  so  faithfully  and  been  loved  by  him. 

Why  is  it  that  he  does  not  remember  Joseph? 
Because  he  had  changed  his  life,  he  had  been  good 
and  kind  in  Joseph's  time.  He  had  a  man  with  him 
that  had  the  spirit  of  God. 

But  the  good  influence  of  that  good  spirit  is  gone. 
He  has  people  around  him  to  do  his  work  now,  that  are 
tyrants  and  taskmasters,  so  he  became  cruel  and  hard 
himself,  as  does  every  one  who  is  removed  from  the 
spiritual  influence  of  God. 

God  will  not  let  evil  long  hold  its  sway,  for  God  will 
take  care  of  his  people. 

The  Hebrew  children  of  Israel  were  God's  chosen 
people  in  that  generation.  .\nd  in  this  generation 
all  the  people  of  the  world,  of  every  nation  and  every 
generation  are  God's  chosen  if  we  will  come  to  him  on 
his  own  conditions.     But  the  question  is,  are  we  willing 

89 


90  The  Spirit  Father 

to  be  of  the  chosen? — that  part  lies  with  ourselves,  not 
with  God. 

Pharaoh  saw  that  God  was  increasing  the  children 
of  the  Hebrews  to  such  an  extent  that  he  became 
alarmed,  lest  they  should  break  out  and  that  they 
would  turn  and  help  their  enemies  and  fight  against 
Pharaoh.     (This  lesson  is  typical  of  Satan.) 

So  Pharaoh  put  taskmasters  over  them  and  put 
burdens  of  work  on  them,  and  made  their  hves  a  bitter 
bondage.  He  thought  to  kill  them  off  with  hard  work, 
but  God  was  with  them  and  multiplied  them  the  more. 
So  Pharaoh  thought  he  would  try  some  other  way. 

He  sent  for  the  mid  wives  and  told  them  whenever 
they  were  called  to  be  with  a  Hebrew  woman  to  fill 
the  place  of  midwife  if  she  brought  forth  a  son,  to  kill 
him,  but  if  a  daughter,  let  her  live. 

But  the  midwives  feared  God,  and  did  not  as  the 
king  told  them,  but  saved  all  the  children. 

When  Pharaoh  saw  he  would  not  succeed  in  that 
way,  he  called  all  his  people,  and  said,  "Every  son 
that  is  born,  you  shall  cast  into  the  river."  And  one 
woman,  a  Lcvite,  had  a  son,  she  saw  he  was  a  goodly, 
beautiful  child,  she  thought  she  would  try  to  save 
him,  and  God  helped  her;  for  he  needed  him  for  his 
own  purpose. 

The  mother  hid  her  son  three  months,  and  when  she 
could  not  hide  him  any  longer  she  made  a  little  ark  and 
put  her  son  in  it  and  hid  it  down  by  the  side  of  the  river, 
and  sent  his  sister  to  watch  it  at  a  distance.  Pharaoh's 
daughter  came  to  the  river  and  saw  the  little  ark,  and 
told  her  maid  to  bring  it  to  her,  and  when  she  opened 


Moses  91 

it  a  beautiful  child  looked  up  in  her  face  and  wept, 
that  won  for  him  the  love  and  compassion  of  her  heart. 

Oh!  how  many  beautiful  typical  lessons  we  have 
in  that  Book  of  all  Books,  if  we  could  only  understand 
them.  Is  there  one  wayward  or  sinful  child  of  God's 
in  the  world  to-day  that  would  look  up  into  the  heavenly 
father's  face  and  weep  for  their  sin,  that  would  not 
get  forgiveness,  love  and  compassion  such  as  no 
human  love  could  ever  know.  Oh!  the  love  of  God  to 
his  sinful  child  passeth  all  understanding.  No  human 
heart  could  comprehend  the  grief  and  sorrow  of  our 
spirit  father  over  the  loss  of  his  sinful  children.  For 
no  sinful  child  can  ever  return  to  the  bosom  of  that 
father,  unless  they  repent,  and  find  forgiveness,  and 
live  a  new  life.  For  that  is  the  decreed  will  of  God, 
nothing  can  change  it,  neither  man  nor  mortal.  And 
Pharaoh's  daughter  said  to  the  woman,  "Take  this 
child  and  nurse  it  for  me,  and  I  will  give  thee  thy 
wages."  Oh,  that  every  woman  in  the  world  to-day 
that  God  gives  children  to,  to  nurse  and  bring  up  for 
him,  could  hear  his  voice  saying,  "Nurse  and  bring  up 
this  child  for  me,  and  I  will  give  thee  thy  wages." 
For  that  is  just  what  he  is  saying,  we  get  our  wages 
according  to  the  care  we  take  of  their  spiritual  life. 

When  they  brought  him  to  Pharaoh's  daughter  he 
became  her  son,  and  she  called  his  name  Moses, 
because  she  had  taken  him  out  of  the  water.  That 
is  where  we  have  all  to  be  taken  out  of,  before  God 
will  make  much  real  use  of  us. 

Let  us  get  into  the  water  and  wash  our  sin-stained 
garments,  for  if  we  have  worn  them  twenty,  thirty. 


92  The  Spirit  Father 

forty,  or  perhaps  fifty  years,  we  are  in  need  of  a  good 
washing  and  you  have  to  get  the  whole  garment 
into  the  water,  right  down  into  the  water,  and  if  you 
do  it  with  the  right  lieart,  and  for  the  true  purpose 
of  what  is  symbolized,  then  you  will  come  out  clean 
and  ready  to  begin  your  new  life. 

But  Moses  grew  up  to  his  manhood,  and  he  saw  the 
burdens  and  bondage  that  was  put  upon  his  brethren. 
He  saw  an  Egyptian  striking  a  Hebrew,  one  of  his 
brethren,  he  slew  the  Egyptian  and  hid  him  in  the 
sand,  and  when  the  waves  came  up  they  would  wash 
it  into  the  sea. 

(That  is  where  lots  of  devils  are  kept  until  God 
calls  them  out.) 

When  Moses  went  out  again  the  next  day  he  saw 
two  Hebrews  quarreling,  and  he  asked  them  not  to 
have  strife  with  each  other. 

They  asked  him  who  made  him  a  prince  and  a  judge 
over  them,  and  if  he  wanted  to  kill  them  as  he  did 
the  Egyptian.  Pharaoh  heard  of  it  and  was  going 
to  kill  Moses,  but  Moses  fled  into  the  land  of  Midian, 
and  he  came  to  a  well.  The  priest  of  Midian  had 
seven  daughters,  they  came  to  draw  water  and  fill 
the  troughs  for  their  father's  flock.  The  shepherds 
came  and  drove  them  away,  but  Moses  stood  up  and 
helped  them,  and  watered  the  flock.  When  their 
father  asked  them  how  they  had  gotten  home  so  soon, 
they  said,  "An  Egyptian  delivered  us  out  of  the  hands 
of  the  shepherds." 

What  a  light  there  is  in  those  two  verses.  The 
shepherds  driving  the  flock  away  from  the  water,  and 


Moses  93 

the  Egyptian  delivering  the  flock  out  of  their  hands 
and  leading  them  to  the  water  and  giving  them 
enough. 

Oh,  God,  how  many  shepherds  are  driving  your 
flocks  away  from  the  water  in  this  age?  Send  us 
another  Moses  or  some  one  to  fill  Moses'  place, — to 
help  your  flocks — and  lead  them  to  the  water.  God 
heard  the  cry  of  the  children  of  Israel  and  their  groan- 
ings,  under  their  bondage.  Hear,  O  Lord,  the 
groanings  of  countless  children  that  are  groaning 
under  the  burdens  of  the  world  and  sin,  their  eyes  are 
so  darkened  by  their  own  desires,  the  false  shepherds, 
and  blind  teachers.  The  blind  are  leading  the  blind, 
and  where  to?  0,  God,  send  them  spiritual  light, 
deliver  your  children,  shepherds  and  all  from  the 
bondage  of  spiritual  darkness. 

God  remembered  his  covenant  with  Abraham.  He 
looked  upon  the  children  of  Israel  and  pitied  them. 

That  is  one  thing  that  we  may  all  be  sure  of,  that 
God  will  never  forget  his  promises  to  us. 

For  whatever  God  has  promised  either  to  the  good 
or  the  bad  he  will  fulfill.  Moses  took  for  a  wife  one 
of  the  maidens  that  he  helped  out  of  the  hands  of  the 
shepherds.  Moses  was  taking  care  of  the  flock  of 
his  father-in-law,  when  he  came  to  the  mountain  of 
God,  and  the  angel  of  the  Lord  appeared  in  a  flame 
of  fire  in  the  midst  of  a  bush,  the  fire  burned,  but  the 
bush  was  not  consumed. 

Moses  thought  that  was  very  strange,  and  turned 
aside  to  see  what  it  could  be,  and  when  God  saw  him 
turn  to  look,  he  called,  "Moses,  Moses."     And  Moses 


94  The  Spirit  Father 

said,  "Here  I  am."  Then  God  said,  "I  am  thy  father, 
the  God  of  Abraham,  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God 
of  Jacob."  I  have  heard  the  cry  of  my  people  that 
are  in  Egypt.  I  am  going  to  send  you  to  bring  them 
out  of  the  hands  of  their  oppressors,  for  I  know  how 
badly  they  are  used,  and  I  know  their  sorrow. 

"If  they  will  be  obedient  and  follow  j^ou,  I  will  lead 
them  into  a  beautiful  land,  full  of  plenty,  and  every- 
thing they  need  in  it." 

So  he  said,  "Come  now,  I  will  send  you  unto  Pharaoh 
to  tell  |him  I  want  my  people  set  free,  they  have  been 
long  enough  in  bondage."  But  Moses  said,  "Who  am 
I  that  I  should  go  to  Pharaoh  and  say  'let  me  take 
away  all  the  children  of  Israel,'  he  will  not  let  me  do 
it."  God  said,  "You  need  not  have  any  fear  for  I  am 
going  with  you." 

Ah,  that  is  it,  if  God  chooses  his  servants  and  sends 
them,  they  need  not  fear,  for  God,  himself,  is  with 
them,  and  does  his  work  through  them. 

But  Moses  wanted  to  know  what  he  would  say  to 
the  children  of  Israel  when  they  asked  him  who  sent 
him  to  bring  them  out.  "Say,  the  God  of  their  fathers 
and  their  God  and  Father  if  they  obey.  He  will  take 
them  into  the  land  of  Canaan.  Now,  go  and  tell  them 
to  get  ready,  and  take  everything  they  can  get  with 
them,  for  I  do  not  want  them  to  go  away  empty. 
Take  away  all  the  gold  and  silver  and  jewels  you  can 
get,  and  put  them  on  your  sons  and  daughters, — for 
God  loves  to  give  his  children  riches." 

Moses  is  still  fearful,  and  afraid  they  will  not  believe 
God  sent  him.    But  God  said,  "I  will  give  you  the 


Moses  95 

signs  to  show  them  that  they  may  believe  God  hath 
sent  thee." 

God  told  Moses  to  put  his  hand  in  his  bosom,  and 
when  he  took  it  out  his  hand  was  leprous.  (Now 
that  is  an  emblem  of  God's  first  sending  his  children 
out  of  his  bosom  in  human  flesh,  and  they  all  became 
leprous  with  sin  and  death.) 

Then  God  told  Moses  to  p\it  his  hand  into  his  bosom 
again,  and  then  told  him  to  take  it  out,  and  it  had 
turned  as  his  other  flesh. 

That  is  the  emblem  of  the  new  covenant.  Christ 
began  the  new  covenant  at  the  River  Jordan. 

Let  us  get  into  the  water  as  God  has  commanded, 
begin  our  new  life  as  Christ  has  shown  us  to  begin  it. 

Get  the  leprosy  washed  from  our  flesh,  it  is  in  the 
flesh  that  we  sin,  not  in  the  spirit. 

We  read  in  some  papers,  "Man,  know  thyself." 
Oh,  God,  if  men  and  women  could  only  know  them- 
selves, what  different  men  and  women  there  would  be 
in  the  world.  If  they  only  understood  why  they  are 
in  the  world,  and  what  for,  there  would  be  thousands 
and  tens  of  thousands  that  would  be  exceedingly 
afraid  to  look  into  the  face  of  God  Almighty  to- 
night, and  that  would  be  longing  for  His  coming, 
if  they  only  knew  and  understood,  and  believed 
what  their  spirit  father  has  in  store  for  them  who 
will  return  to  his  bosom,  led  back  to  him  through  the 
ransom  paid  for  us  all  by  the  Elder  Brother,  Christ. 

He  paid  the  ransom  for  us  with  his  own  life  to  redeem 
our  body  and  soul,  that  is,  our  human  life,  out  of  the 
hand  of  Satan  and  sin,  and  show  us  a  way  to  get 


96  The  Spirit  Father 

back   into  the  house  of  our  father  by  following  him. 

What  God  says  about  the  signs. 

He  says  if  they  will  not  believe  the  first  sign,  they 
will  believe  the  voice  of  the  second  sign.  We  see  God 
says  the  voice  of  the  sign.  If  they  will  not  believe  either 
of  these  twcJ  signs  then  "thou  shalt  take  of  the  water 
of  the  river  and  pour  it  on  the  dry  land,  and  the  water 
shall  become  blood." 

That  is  the  emblem  of  the  new  covenant,  the  water 
and  the  blood,  but  we  see  the  water  always  comes 
first.  But  Moses  said,  "O,  Lord  God,  do  not  send  me, 
for  I  am  not  eloquent  and  I  am  very  slow  bi  speech, 
and  of  a  slow  tongue."  Poor  Moses!  He  thought 
he  would  get  out  of  doing  God's  work  some  way. 
But  Moses  was  just  the  servant  God  wanted,  and 
all  his  deficiencies  was  not  going  to  get  him  off,  for 
God  said,  "Tell  me  who  made  man's  mouth,  or  who 
made  the  dumb,  or  the  deaf,  or  the  blind?  Have  not 
I,  the  Lord,  made  them  all? 

"Now  go,  and  do  as  I  have  told  thee,  and  I  will  be 
with  thy  mouth,  and  teach  thee  what  thou  shalt  say" 
Still  Moses  was  afraid,  and  God  grew  angry  with  him. 
He  said,  "I  will  send  Aaron,  thy  brother,  with  thee, 
I  know  he  can  speak  well,  he  is  coming  to  meet  thee, 
and  when  he  secth  thee,  he  will  Vjc  glad  in  his  heart." 
And  thou  shalt  speak  unto  him,  and  tell  unto  him  the 
words  I  shall  speak  unto  you.  He  shall  be  your 
spokesman  unto  the  people,  and  shall  be  to  thee, 
instead  of  a  mouth,  and  thou  shalt  be  to  him  instead 
of  God."  Look  at  God's  dealings  with  Moses,  he  chose 
Moses  to  be  his  servant  to  lead  his  people  out  of  Egypt, 


Moses  97 

although  God  had  given  Aaron  as  his  spokesman,  all 
God's  commands  were  to  be  given  to  Moses,  and 
Aaron  was  to  do  as  Moses  told  him. 

Another  emblem  of  Christ.  God  gave  his  commands 
to  Christ,  and  Christ  gave  them  to  the  Apostles,  and 
the  Apostles  to  the  people. 

Still,  we  see  they  had  to  be  all  chosen  by  God 
himself,  or  by  his  commands.  God  has  always  reserved 
the  right  to  choose  his  own  servants. 

And  that  is  what  is  the  trouble  v/ith  God's  work  in 
the  world  now,  and  why  it  is  in  such  a  disordered 
condition,  because  God  has  not  chosen  the  servants 
that  have  taken  it  upon  themselves  to  lead  his  people 
out  of  darkness  and  bondage  of  the  world  and  sin. 
There  may  be  some  chosen  men  among  the  many,  but 
there  are  few  or  we  would  see  God's  work  done  in  God's 
way,  not  in  man's  way. 

There  are  too  many  of  the  self-appointed  servants 
of  God  living  for  the  world  and  the  flesh  themselves, 
to  be  able  to  lead  people  out  of  the  world's  sins,  or 
lead  them  back  to  their  father.  For  they  do  not 
know  the  way  themselves.  May  God  show  them  what 
they  are  doing,  so  that  they  may  not  be  cast  out  as 
unprofitable  servants. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


MOSES    AND    AARON. 


The  Lord  told  Aaron  to  go  out  into  the  wilderness 
and  meet  Moses. 

He  went  as  God  commanded  and  met  Moses  on  the 
Mount  of  God.  There  Moses  told  him  all  God  wished 
them  to  do,  and  why  he  had  sent  Aaron  to  be  with 
him. 

And  that  they  were  simply  to  go  and  do  the  things  as 
God  commanded  them,  without  fear.  For  they  were 
only  to  be  the  instruments  God  was  going  to  use  to 
do  his  work  with.  He  would  do  the  work  himself, 
through  them.  So  Moses  and  Aaron  gathered  together 
all  the  elders  of  the  children  of  Israel.  "Let  us  notice 
it  was  all  the  elder  people  they  gathered  together  to 
speak  to,  not  the  young  people  or  children  that  would 
have  no  sense  or  understanding  of  what  they  were 
told." 

God  expects  children  to  be  brought  up  to  revere 
God,  and  to  love  Jesus  and  obey  him  as  far  as  the  child 
or  youth  can  understand.  But  God  is  too  good  a  father 
to  wish  or  require  that  the  weightier  matters  of  spiritual 
things  should  be  laid  on  their  young  minds.  Until  the 
mind  as  well  as  the  body  of  the  natural  child  has  had 
time  to  mature,  and  has  been  carefully  trained  and 
educated,    both    mentally    and    physically,    and    the 

98 


Moses  and  Aaron  99 

natural  life  developed  into  maturity;  the  mind  then 
becomes  able  to  understand  the  teachings  on  spiritual 
things.  That  is  the  reason  we  have  so  many  careless 
Christians,  they  do  not  understand  the  difference  in 
the  natural  and  spiritual  side  of  their  lives. 

They  have,  from  their  earliest  years,  gone  to  the 
day  school,  the  Sabbath  school  and  the  church,  until 
everything  is  jumbled  up  together  that  when  they 
come  to  the  years  that  they  should  be  deciding  for  their 
spiritual  life,  they  think  they  are  real  good  Christians, 
and  that  is  all  the  length  they  get,  that  is  the  reason 
there  are  so  many  Christians  in  spiritual  darkness. 

So  Moses  gathered  the  older  people,  that  would  have 
wisdom  and  knowledge  of  what  Moses  was  telling  them. 

That  is  one  of  the  greatest  troubles  in  the  world  now, 
with  the  supposed  work  that  people  imagine  they  are 
doing  for  God.  In  the  majority  of  our  churches  at 
the  present  time,  the  greater  part  of  the  church  work 
is  in  the  hands  of  boys  and  girls,  and  youths  that  are 
only  fitted  to  be  taught  by  their  elders,  and  told  to 
obey,  and  to  go  and  play  like  good  children. 

Their  minds  and  thoughts  or  intellectual  powers 
has  not  come  into  its  proper  development,  they 
cannot  take  in  or  grasp  the  meaning  of  spiritual  things 
as  elder  people  can. 

But  children  should  have  perfect  care  bestowed 
upon  them,  both  in  the  teachings  of  God,  in  the  church, 
and  in  the  home. 

Some  take  up  Samuel  and  Timothy  and  show  them 
to  the  children  as  being  called  young  into  the  service 
of  God.     They  do  not   understand  that  Samuel  was 


100  The  Spirit  Father 

brought  up  and  educated  under  the  priest,  Eh,  and 
was  grown  to  full  years  of  his  natural  maturity  before 
he  knew  God,  or  the  word  of  God. 

And  Timothy!  Paul,  speaking  of  him,  calls  Timothy 
"his  son  in  the  faith,"  so  he  must  have  been  well 
taught  before  Paul  tells  him  to  "Make  right  use  of 
the  law  of  God,"  for  no  one  can  make  right  use  of  it 
if  they  do  not  understand  it. 

As  soon  as  Moses  had  all  the  elders  of  the  people 
gathered  together  Aaron  told  them  all  the  Lord  had 
said  to  Moses,  and  showed  them  the  signs  as  God  had 
told  them. 

The  people  believed  that  the  Lord  had  visited  the 
children  of  Israel,  and  looked  upon  their  affliction,  and 
they  bowed  their  heads  and  worshiped  God.  Then 
Moses  and  Aaron  told  Pharaoh  that  God  had  sent  them 
to  take  the  children  of  Israel  home  to  their  own  coun- 
try. But  Pharaoh's  heart  was  hard  and  he  would  not 
let  them  go.  He  put  heavier  burdens  on  them  and 
would  not  give  them  the  straw  they  needed  for  their 
work,  but  expected  them  to  do  just  as  much  work  and 
go  all  over  the  land  and  gather  the  straw  for  it. 

The  people  found  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  do  it, 
and  they  were  beaten  when  they  could  not  fulfil  their 
task. 

Oh,  that  takes  us  back  to  within  the  age  of  our  own 
life,  when  the  cry  of  the  slave  in  bondage  in  the  south, 
went  up  to  the  Spirit  Father,  and  he  heard  their  cry, 
and  sent  his  instruments  to  free  them  out  of  the  hand 
of  their  hard  taskmasters.  God  will  always  hear  the 
cry  of  his  children.     When  the  officers  of  the  children 


Moses  and  Aaron  101 

of  Israel  went  to  Pharaoh,  to  see  if  he  would  not  be 
more  just  to  them,  he  told  them  they  had  too  much 
time  on  their  hands,  or  they  would  not  want  to  go  and 
offer  sacrifices  to  their  God.  And  there  would  not  be 
any  of  their  tasks  lifted  from  them.  When  they  came 
to  Moses  and  Aaron  they  told  them  that  their  coming 
had  only  got  them  into  more  trouble.  (That  is  the  way 
with  every  one  that  tries  to  help  get  anyone  out  of  the 
hands  of  Satan  and  sin.)  If  Satan  sees  us  after  them, 
he  will  give  them  some  kind  of  trouble  to  make  them 
think  we  are  bringing  them  trouble  in  place  of  getting 
them  out  of  it.  Oh,  Satan  has  been  subtle  through  all 
ages,  and  there  never  was  an  age  when  he  was  more  so 
than  the  present  age. 

Moses  tells  them  that  God  has  promised  to  take 
them  out  of  Egypt  and  he  would  do  it. 

But  he  was  letting  Pharaoh's  heart  remain  hard  to 
keep  them  there  till  God  would  let  all  the  Egyptians 
see  the  wonderful  glory  and  power  of  the  God  of  Israel 
and  to  show  them  the  judgments  that  God  can  send 
on  the  children  of  disobedience. 

God  sent  plagues  of  frogs,  lice,  and  fleas,  plagues  on 
the  beasts,  plagues  of  darkness  and  many  other  kinds 
but  still  Pharaoh  would  not  let  them  go,  and  told 
Moses  to  go  out  of  his  sight  and  not  come  to  trouble 
him  any  more. 

That  is  what  many  are  saying  now  to  the  spirit  of 
God  that  is  wath  them  "Get  away,  and  do  not  trouble 
me  any  more,  for  I  will  not  harken  to  you."  But  just 
let  us  see  how  Moses  answered  him.  Pharaoh  told 
him  not  to  come  to  him  again.     Moses  said,  "Thou 


102  The  Spirit  Father 

hast  spoken   well,   I   will   come  to  thee    no    more." 

O,  dear  reader,  that  is  what  we  do  to  the  spirit  of 
God  when  He  comes  to  plead  with  us,  we  will  not 
harken.  He  comes,  and  comes  again,  still  we  will 
not  hearken,  till  He  goes  away  for  the  last  time,  and 
He  says,  "You  will  not  hearken,  so  go  your  own  way, 
I  will  come  to  you  no  more,  but  we  \vi\\  meet  again 
one  day  at  the  judgment  seat,  and  unless  you  seek  me 
before  that  time,  and  be  sorry,  and  repent  of  what  you 
have  done  to  me,  then  we  will  part  there  to  meet  no 
more!"  O!  Just  think  of  it!  never  more  to  be  anything 
to  God,  but  completely  in  the  power  of  the  devil  and 
his  people,  and  his  kingdom.  For  the  devil  will  have  a 
kingdom  and  a  people,  that  is  what  he  is  fighting  for 
in  the  world  today  and  from  all  ages,  to  gather  in  a 
people  for  his  kingdom.  The  devil  knows  well  —  if  we 
do  not,  that  his  time  and  his  people's  time  to  be  ming- 
ling among  the  children  of  God  will  end. 

For  God  will  surely  at  the  Judgment  Day  separate 
his  own  redeemed  children  from  the  children  of  Satan. 

Satan's  own  will  go  with  him,  they  were  ^^^lling  to 
serve  and  live  for  him  here,  when  they  had  the  oppor- 
tunity to  leave  him  if  the}''  wished;  but  they  will  have 
no  opportunity  to  leave  him  then,  even  if  they  were 
willing.  Two  words  will  always  stand  between  them  and 
that  lost  opportunity. — Too  late,  too  late, — small  words 
but  O,  what  mighty  words  when  they  are  used  in  ref- 
erence to  a  lost  soul. 

The  Lord  again  told  Moses  to  get  all  the  children  of 
Israel  ready,  and  for  them  to  get  all  the  silver,  and  gold 
and  jewels  they  could  get  out  of  the  Egyptians,  to  take 


Moses  and  Aaron  103 

with  them.  That  is  how  it  will  be  at  the  last,  all 
God's  people  will  get  all  the  silver,  and  gold,  and  jewels 
that  will  be  in  the  world.  When  God's  day  comes  to 
divide  his  people,  he  will  take  all  that  belongs  to  him 
then,  as  well  as  his  people.  And  he  says,  the  silver  and 
gold  is  mine,  and  all  the  precious  jewels  are  mine,  all 
the  earth  is  mine,  and  all  the  heavens  are  mine. 

So  when  God  takes  his  people,  and  all  else  that  be- 
longs to  him,  there  will  not  be  anything  for  the  devil 
to  take  but  his  people. 

And  he  will  have  to  get  off  the  earth  with  them,  for 
God  will  not  let  him  stay  there,  and  we  know  he  can't 
go  into  heaven,  so  he  must  go  into  the  place  God  has 
prepared  for  him  and  all  his  people. 

When  Satan  gets  his  people  there  with  himself  and 
all  his  angels,  (for  he  has  angels)  his  people  will  find 
out  when  he  gets  them  into  his  own  kingdom,  and  he 
knows  they  have  no  chance  of  getting  out  of  his  grasp 
they  will  not  find  him  giving  them  such  a  good,  com- 
fortable time  as  he  let  them  have  when  they  were 
mixed  up  among  God's  people,  for  then  he  was  afraid 
they  might  know  him  as  he  was— and  leave  him  to  turn 
to  their  Spirit  Father. 

But  he  won't  be  afraid  of  that,  once  he  gets  them 
into  his  kingdom,  for  no  one  that  ever  goes  in  there 
with  him,  will  ever  be  able  to  leave  it  again;  for  God 
says  that  is  your  everlasting  home.  So  if  you  do  not 
decide  to  stay  out  of  it  before  you  get  in,  you  cannot 
come  out  after. 

Whoever  you  may  be,  that  reads  this,  may  God  help 
you  to  decide  before  it  is  too  late. 


104  The  Spirit  Father 

Whenever  God  has  commanded  the  children  of 
Israel  to  move  from  one  place  to  another,  he  has  told 
them  to  bring  all  the  'jewels  of  silver  and  jewels  of 
gold  that  they  could  bring  from  the  people  they  were 
leaving. — Their  God  put  fear  into  Pharoah's  heart  by 
slaying  "All  the  first-born  in  the  land  of  Egypt." 

This  lesson  is  typical  of  Christ  and  Satan. — Pharaoh 
represents  Satan  and  Moses,  Christ. 

The  fear  that  was  put  in  Pharaoh's  heart  when  he 
was  told  that  all  the  first-born  in  the  land  of  Egypt 
were  slain.  That  symbolizes  the  slaying  of  the  natural 
life,  by  the  spiritual  life,  or  the  slaying  of  the  natural 
or  animal  seed  in  man,  by  the  power  of  the  spiritual 
seed. 

And  that  fear  is  in  Satan's  heart  today.  For  every 
child  born  into  the  world  from  its  natural  birth  belongs 
to  Satan, — first  birth,  nature, — second  birth,  spiritual. 

When  Satan  sees  the  first-born  slain  he  knows  he  has 
lost  one  from  his  kingdom ;  so  there  is  fear  in  his  heart. 
There  was  not  one  house  in  all  Egypt  that  there  was 
not  one  slain. 

So  God  had  one  out  of  every  house  if  he  had  no  more. 
But  I  pray  God  will  have  many  more  than  one  out  of 
every  house  in  the  world  now.  We  are  told  he  has 
his  solitary  in  every  home. 

Now  if  we  would  only  slay  every  sin  as  it  comes  into 
our  hearts,  with  God's  help,  we  would  put  such  fear  in 
the  devil's  heart,  that  he  would  soon  let  us  out  of  his 
grasp,  for  we  would  not  be  of  any  use  to  him  then  in 
his  work.  He  is  a  hard  taskmaster  if  once  he  gets  one 
into  his  service,  and  he  will  so  blind  them  to  what  he 


Moses  and  Aaron  105 

is  making  them  do,  that  they  will  think  themselves  the 
most  perfect  men  to  be  found  in  the  country  they 
live  in.  If  he  can  only  get  them  to  be  a  preacher  or 
teacher, — to  teach  others  as  he  has  taught  them  that 
they  can  do  a  little  work  for  God,  and  have  a  little  of 
his  work  mixed  up  with  it,  then  he  feels  he  has  got  a 
great  prize,  for  he  is  quite  sure  of  them,  and  he  knows 
they  can  bring  thousands  into  his  clutches.  He  knows 
they  cannot  serve  two  masters  and  belong  to  the  re- 
deemed children  of  God.  So  Satan  knows  he  will 
have  them  sure  and  fast  for  his  own,  when  God  comes 
to  separate  his  children  from  the  children  of  Satan. 

The  devil  knows  what  he  is  about  although  we  may 
not  think  so,  and  he  knows  he  will  have  tens  and  tens 
of  thousands  that  think  they  are  the  children  of  God, 
unless  they  leave  his  service  entirely,  and  seek  their 
God. 

They  are  all  right  so  far  as  thinking  they  are  the 
children  of  God,  but  they  are  not  the  redeemed  children 
of  God  and  it  is  only  the  redeemed  that  will  go  back 
to  the  Father  as  his  own.  The  Lord  sent  the  last  pun- 
ishment on  Pharaoh  that  he  was  going  to  send  before 
Pharaoh  would  send  his  children  out  of  Egypt. 

Word  was  brought  to  Pharaoh  at  midnight  that  the 
God  of  Israel  had  slain  all  the  first-born  in  the  land  of 
Egypt,  and  a  great  cry  went  up  from  the  people,  for 
there  was  not  a  house  where  there  was  not  one  dead. 

Pharoah  then  called  for  Moses  and  Aaron,  and  told 
them  to  take  all  the  children  of  Israel,  and  all  their 
flocks  and  herds,  and  begone,  for  he  was  afraid  to  keep 
them  any  longer.     He  found  that  the  hand  of  God  was 


106  The  Spirit  Father 

strong  and  mighty  and  that  his  commands  must  be 
obeyed. 

Again  God  spoke  unto  Moses  and  Aaron  and  told 
them,  that  before  they  moved  on  their  journey,  to  in- 
stitute a  Passover  and  they  were  to  keep  it  when  they 
got  into  the  land  God  was  taking  them  to. 

They  were  to  keep  it  for  an  ordinance  to  them  and 
their  children  forever.  (That  was  typical  of  Christ's 
death,  and  was  kept  by  Christ  himself.) 

Moses  took  the  bones  of  Joseph,  as  he  had  sworn  to 
do,  to  carry  them  back  to  Canaan,  and  started  on  the 
journey,  to  take  the  children  of  Israel  through  the 
wilderness  into  Canaan. 

May  God  lead  us  safely  through  this  world  into  the 
land  of  Canaan,  for  this  lesson  is  only  an  emblem  of 
our  earthly  life, — as  pilgrims  on  our  journey  back  to 
our  Father's  home. 

God  went  before  them  all  the  way  to  lead  them 
safely. — Another  emblem  of  Christ.  He  went  before 
us,  through  all  his  earthly  human  life,  and  all  the 
trouble  and  trials  that  we  are  ever  called  to  bear,  he  bore, 
and  will  lead  us  right  into  the  home  of  our  Father  in 
heaven. 

So  the  children  of  Israel  were  to  follow  God  in  the 
pillar  of  fire.  He  would  take  them  all  safely,  for  al- 
though it  took  them  forty  years,  they  would  come  in 
to  Canaan  all  safe,  if  they  would  only  follow  on  and 
obey. 

So  with,  us,  if  we  have  to  live  in  this  world  forty  or 
sixty  years  after  we  begin  to  follow  Christ,  if  we  keep 
on  following  him,  and  obeying  the  Father,  we  will   get 


Moses  and  Aaron  107 

home  all  right  at  the  end  of  forty  years  as  safely  as  at 
the  end  of  one.  But  we  may  be  like  the  children  of 
Israel,  we  may  want  to  turn  back. 

0,  how  many  take  a  few  steps  and  then  turn  back. 

We  will  see  how  God  led  them  on,  and  how  they  be- 
haved. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


IN    THE    WILDERNESS. 


God  told  Moses  to  have  the  children  of  Israel  to  en- 
camp over  against  the  sea,  for  he  knew  that  Pharaoh 
would  follow  after  them.  He  said  "  I  will  show  Pharaoh 
and  all  the  hosts  of  Egypt  that  I  am  the  Lord  God  of 
Israel. 

Pharaoh  got  out  all  of  his  army  and  all  of  his  horses 
and  chariots,  and  pursued  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
overtook  them  by  the  sea.  When  they  saw  Pharaoh 
and  all  his  army  they  were  afraid,  and  cried  unto 
the  Lord.  They  were  angry  with  Moses  and  asked 
him  why  he  had  brought  them  out  to  die  in  the  wilder- 
ness. But  Moses  told  them  to  fear  not,  to  stand  still 
and  see  how  the  Lord  would  deliver  them,  if  they 
would  only  obey,  for  the  Egyptians  they  saw  today 
they  would  see  no  more  foi-ever. 

The  Lord  shall  fight  for  you,  and  you  shall  hold 
your  peace;  and  let  us  go  forward  as  God  has  com- 
manded us. 

The  Lord  divided  the  sea  and  made  a  road  for  the 
children  of  Israel  to  go  through  so  they  all  got  safely 
over.  The  Egyptians  followed  after  them,  but  when 
they  were  right  in  the  midst  of  the  sea  the  Lord  lifted 
his  hand  off   the  waters,  and  the   sea  closed  up  and 

108 


In  the  Wilderness  109 

destroyed  them. — Pharaoh,  all  his  hosts,  all  his  horses, 
and  all  his  chariots  swept  off  in  a  moment. 

Oh!  when  God  lifts  his  hand  to  destroy  his  enemies 
he  does  it  surely  and  quickly. 

This  lesson  symbolizes  God  sweeping  Satan  and  all 
his  hosts  into  the  bottomless  pit, — the  sea,  (or  hell). 

And  when  the  morning  came,  and  Moses  saw  the 
glorious  deliverance  that  God  had  given  to  the  children 
of  Israel,  he  sang  a  song  of  praise  unto  the  Lord.  He 
sang  "The  Lord  is  my  strength,  and  he  has  become 
my  salvation,  he  is  my  God,  and  I  will  prepare  him  a 
habitation  in  my  heart,  he  is  my  father's  God,  and  I 
will  exalt  him."  You  see  Moses  had  not  taken  God 
for  his  savior  until  he  saw  the  mighty  work  he  had 
done. 

So  Moses  brought  them  three  days  journey  into  the 
Vvdlderness;  and  when  they  found  water  it  was  so  bit- 
ter that  they  could  not  drink  it.  They  murmured 
against  Moses,  he  cried  unto  the  Lord  and  the  Lord 
showed  him  a  tree,  told  him  to  cast  it  into  the  water, 
and  the  water  would  be  made  sweet. 

God  made  a  statu Lc  r.nd  ordinance  with  them  there 
to  prove  them.  (That  is  what  God  does  with  all  his 
children,  proves  them.) 

They  moved  on  a  little  farther  and  found  wells  with 
plenty  of  water.  But  they  had  no  sooner  gotten  water 
when  they  began  to  murmur  about  something  else. 

Still  their  spirit  father  was  good  and  kind  to  them. 
But  they  went  on  murmuring  against  Moses  and  Aaron 
because  they  had  brought  them  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt,  where  they  had  plenty  to  eat,  and  although 


110  The  Spirit  Father 

they  had  been  in  bondage  and  oppressed  with  bur- 
dens, they  were  willing  to  go  back  into  the  bondage  to 
get  enough  to  satisfy  the  flesh,  rather  than  go  on  and 
trust  God  that  they  would  get  all  they  needed. 

What  a  grand  typical  lesson  we  have  here  on  our 
temporal  life! 

Tens  of  thousands  in  the  world  are  murmuring  and 
fretting  in  their  hearts  at  the  bondage  they  are  living 
in. 

They  fear,  if  they  leave  the  place  and  people  that  are 
keeping  them  in  bondage  to  their  sinful  life,  that  they 
would  not  get  enough  to  feed  the  flesh  and  dress  it. 
They  believe  in  a  God,  but  they  are  afraid  to  trust  in 
his  promises.  "To  seek  first  the  kingdom  of  heaven" 
and  everything  you  need  will  be  given  you. — If  people 
would  only  prove  God,  for  he  challenges  his  children  to 
prove  his  promises  and  love  to  them. 

Those  that  trust  their  spirit  father  and  prove  him, 
will  never  find  him  to  fail  them  in  their  need. 

Moses  told  them  that  God  commanded  them  to 
gather  enough  bread  on  the  sixth  day  to  do  them  over 
the  seventh,  that  no  one  was  to  gather  on  the  Sabbath, 
but  to  rest.  But  some  of  them  did  not  obey,  and  God 
was  displeased  with  them,  and  he  sent  word  to  Moses 
saying,  "How  long  will  they  refuse  to  keep  my  com- 
mands and  my  laws?"  (And  these  ar&the  very  words 
God  is  saying  to  this  generation;  how  long  will  ye,  in 
thousands  refuse  to  keep  my  commandments  and 
obey  my  laws;  that  is  God's  cry  to  his  children  still, 
for  he  knows  he  can  never  get  his  children  back  unless 


In  the  Wilderness  111 

they  obey;  for  that  is  his  decreed  will,  sworn  by  him- 
self and  it  will  never  be  changed.) 

We  must  obey  our  Father  for  he  will  never  change 
his  will  to  suit  his  children.  The  children  must  come 
unto  him.  Still  they  kept  on  murmuring  against 
Moses.  He  led  them  on  through  the  wilderness  till 
they  came  to  Sinai,  and  camped  before  the  Mount  of 
God. 

God  called  to  Moses  out  of  the  mountain  and  said 
"speak  thou  to  the  house  of  Jacob,  and  the  children  of 
Israel,  and  ask  them  if  they  have  not  seen  what  God 
has  done  for  them,  in  bringing  them  out  of  the  hands 
of  the  Egyptians;  he  is  taking  them  home  to  the  land 
of  Canaan  and  to  himself.  You  are  not  to  fear  for  God 
is  proving  you  that  his  fear  may  be  forever  before  you, 
that  ye  sin  not.  And  you  shall  build  him  an  altar,  but 
not  of  stone,  it  shall  be  the  altar  of  your  heart,  and 
you  shall  offer  the  sacrifice  of  a  pure  heart  to  your  God, 
you  shall  be  his  children,  and  he  will  be  your  father. 
And  if  thou  shalt  indeed  obey  his  voice,  be  circum- 
spect and  serve  no  other  gods,  then  God  will  bless  you 
and  keep  you  out  of  the  hand  of  Satan.  Glorious 
promise. 

And  that  is  God's  promise  to  every  creature  in  the 
world  for  all  generations. 


CHAPTER  XIV.    . 

"god    tells    MOSES    TO    BUILD    A    TABERNACLE." 

Moses  bviilded  the  Tabernacle. 

Aaron  and  his  sons  are  chosen  by  God  to  fill  the 
priests'  office. 

Let  us  see  when  God  choses  his  servants  how  he  pre- 
pares them  for  his  work. 

Aaron  obeyed  God's  commands  and  did  all  he  wa3 
told  to  do,  under  Moses. 

God  tried  him  and  found  him  faithful.  And  God 
said,  "He  shall  wear  a  holy  garment"  (that  ir>,  he  shall 
be  pure  and  clean,)  and  again  ho  said,  "He  shall  be 
filled  with  a  wise  heart,  and  with  the  spirit  of  wisdom. 
Consecrated,  that  he  may  minister  unto  me  in  the  office 
of  a  priest." 

We  will  not  go  through  all  the  building  of  the  Tab- 
ernacle; but  will  look  at  one  place. 

They  were  told  to  make  a  laver  of  bra.ss,  (a  laver  is  a 
bath  or  large  basin).  It  was  to  be  put  into  the  Taber- 
nacle, between  the  congregation  and  the  altar,  and 
water  put  in  it  to  wash  in,  and  they  were  told  to  wash 
therein  that  they  should  not  die. 

That  was  to  be  a  law  to  them  and  to  their  seed 
throughout  their  generation. 

Now  if  we  will  only  think  a  little  on  that  command 
given  to  the  building  of  the  first  Tabernacle,  we  will 
find  that  it  is  a  type  of  the  baptismal  fount  to  be  found 

112 


God  Tells  Moses  to  Build  a  Tabernacle       113 

in  some  of  our  churches  today — but  it  shoukl  be  in  all, 
not  in  a  few  only.  For  the  water  must  go  with  the 
spirit. 

However  Aaron  and  his  sons  could  not  fill  the  office 
they  were  called  to  unless  they  washed  themselves,  and 
put  on  holy  garments. 

And  as  we  read  they  were  to  have  holy  garments  it 
was  their  flesh  garments  that  were  to  be  washed  and 
made  pure  and  holy,  for  the  flesh  is  the  garment  of  the 
spirit. 

We  see  how  God's  ministers  or  priests  have  to  be  made 
ready  for  his  work,  before  he  will  put  them  into  his 
service.  If  God  required  pure  and  holy  men  then,  he 
requires  pure  and  holy  men  now,  filled  with  spiritual 
power. 

And  in  no  age  did  God  need  more  of  such  men  than 
in  the  present  one. 

God  said,  "Thou  shaft  anoint  Aaron  and  his  sons 
that  they  may  be  fitted  for  my  service. 

When  Moses  was  upon  the  Mount  getting  the  com- 
mands from  God,  God  said,  the  children  of  Israel  were 
to  keep  the  Sabbath  for  a  day  of  rest,  holy  to  God, 
throughout  all  generations,  for  a  perpetual  Covenant. 

He  there  gave  Moses  two  tables  of  testimony  on 
stone,  written  by  the  finger  of  God.  While  Moses 
was  on  the  Mount,  the  people  thought  he  was  away  so 
long  that  he  had  left  them  in  the  Wilderness. 

They  went  to  Aaron  and  said:  "We  do  not  know 
what  has  become  of  that  man  Moses.  Get  up  and 
make  us  a  god  to  go  before  us  and  let  us  get  out  of  this 
place." 


114  The  Spirit  Father 

Aaron  made  them  a  golden  calf,  and  built  an  altar 
before  it,  and  made  offerings  unto  it. 

When  God  saw  them  he  told  Moses  to  go  down  to  his 
people,  for  they  had  corrupted  themselves,  they  have 
turned  from  me  to  sacrifice  to  another  god,  my  wrath 
is  hot  against  them,  and  I  will  destroy  them. 

But  Moses  pled  for  them  and  said.  Remember  Abra- 
ham, Isaac,  and  Israel  thy  servants,  and  thy  promises 
to  them.  And  God  said  he  would  spare  the  people. 
Dear  kind  and  loving  Father,  always  willing  to  forgive, 
if  we  will  only  plead  and  obey.  But  we  cannot  plead 
with  anyone  we  do  not  believe  in,  and  if  we  believe  and 
plead,  we  must  have  faith  or  what  is  the  sense  of  plead- 
ing if  we  do  not  think  we  will  get  what  we  are  pleading 
for. 

When  Moses  came  down  from  the  Mount  with  the 
two  tables,  and  saw  the  calf  of  gold  they  had  made  for 
a  god;  he  cast  the  tablets  of  stone  from  him,  and  broke 
them  beneath  the  mountain.  Then  he  took  the  golden 
calf  and  ground  it  to  powder  and  threw  it  into  the 
water,  and  made  the  people  drink  of  it. 

(I  think  that  is  where  they  have  got  the  gold  cure 
from,  that  is  used  now  to  cure  people  from  the  whiskey 
habit.) 

Moses  saw  that  the  people  were  hated  for  their  sins. 
It  had  brought  them  to  shame  among  their  enemies, 
and  there  was  slain  about  three  thousand  of  them. 

Moses  went  again  to  ask  God  to  forgive  them,  and 
said  if  God  would  not  forgive  them  to  blot  him  out  of 
his  book.  So  we  see  God  kept  a  book  for  the  good  and 
bad  then,  as  he  does  now. 


God  Tells  Moses  to  Build  a  Tabernacle       115 

God  said,  "Not  you  will  I  blot  out  of  my  book  but 
whosoever  hath  sinned  against  me,  him  will  I  blot  out 
of  my  book." 

(Everyone  shall  bear  their  own  sins.) 

God  remembered  the  two  tablets  of  stone  and  the 
covenant  with  Israel.  Moses  went  up  on  the  mountain 
and  God  wrote  the  tables  again. 

Moses  was  with  the  Lord  on  the  Mount  forty  days 
and  forty  nights;  neither  ate  bread  nor  drank  water. — 
(Another  type  of  Christ.) 

God  was  feeding  him  with  the  spiritual  food,  and 
when  he  came  down  his  face  was  shining  with  such  a 
light  that  they  were  afraid  to  look  upon  him. 

That  is  the  way  with  every  one  that  lives  near  to 
God,  their  hearts  are  right,  and  their  faces  shine. 

Moses  said  "This  is  the  thing  that  the  Lord  com- 
manded to  be  done."  He  took  Aaron  and  his  sons, 
and  washed  them  in  water,  because  they  had  sinned; 
they  had  to  be  cleansed  before  they  put  on  their  robes. 
The  Lord  spoke  unto  Aaron  and  told  him  that  neither 
he  nor  his  sons  were  to  drink  wine  or  strong  drink 
when  they  went  into  the  Tabernacle  lest  they  die  and 
it  shall  be  a  statute  forever  that  ye  may  know  the 
difference  between  what  is  holy,  and  what  is  unholy. 

(Where  do  our  Roman  Priests  get  their  command  to 
drink  wine  at  the  altar?     Not  from  the  book  of  God.) 

Aaron  was  a  little  envious  of  Moses  for  God  loved 
Moses  for  his  obedience  to  him,  but  Aaron  had  done 
wrong.  He  was  speaking  against  Moses  behind  his 
back,  and  God  knew  this  if  Moses  did  not. 

Aaron  had  married  an  Ethiopian  woman,  not  one 


116  The  Spirit  Father 

of  his  own  kind,  for  wc  are  told  that  a  mixed  multitude 
went  up  with  them  out  of  Egypt.  The  woman  was 
tr3^ng  to  make  Aaron  believe  that  God  had  spoken  to 
them  as  well  as  to  Moses,  and  that  they  were  just  as 
able  to  give  God's  commands  to  the  people  without 
Moses  as  with  him. — Another  emblem  of  our  present 
time.  We  have  thousands  trying  to  do  God's  work, 
without  God's  permission. 

If  they  see  a  man  that  God  has  not  only  given  the 
permission  to,  but  his  commands.  In  place  of  trying 
to  find  out  by  his  life  and  the  work  God  is  doing  through 
him,  if  he  be  the  chosen  servant  of  God  for  the  part  of 
the  work  God  has  chosen  and  prepared  him  for,  they 
cither  ignore  the  work,  or  speak  of  it,  as  in  his  own 
power,  not  of  God's.  But  God  will  not  put  any  man 
into  any  part  of  his  work  unless  he  knows  he  has  every 
qualification  to  fit  him  for  the  work  God  calls  him  to  do. 

Human  men  may  make  great  mistakes  in  chosing 
their  servants,  but  God  never.  He  knows  whom  he 
can  trust. 

No  man  or  woman  can  be  a  servant  of  God  that  is 
willing  to  serve  him  only  a  part  of  the  time,  and  serve 
another  master  the  rest  of  the  time.  That  is  an  un- 
profitable servant.  Even  an  earthly  master  would  not 
want  a  servant  that  wanted  only  to  serve  him  when  it 
suited  himself. 

Oh!  no,  God  will  have  no  such  servants,  he  says,  cast 
them  out ;  they  are  unprofitable,  they  are  teaching  my 
children  to  follow  in  their  footsteps — away  with  them. 

God's  own  servants  are  always  known  by  their 
works. 


God  Tells  Moses  to  Build  a  Tabernacle        117 

Aaron  and  the  woman  did  not  have  a  long  time  to 
talk  about  Moses,  for  God  suddenly  called  Moses,  and 
told  him  to  bring  Aaron  and  Miriam  unto  the  Taber- 
nacle and  he  would  come  down  and  speak  to  them. 

God  came  in  a  cloud  and  spake  to  them,  saying, 
"Were  ye  not  afraid  to  speak  against  my  servant 
Moses,  him  I  spake  with  as  mouth  to  mouth,  but  my 
anger  is  kindled  against  you." 

And  the  cloud  departed  off  the  Tabernacle  where 
they   stood. 

And  when  Aaron  looked  upon  Miriam  she  had  become 
leprous. 

And  Aaron  said  to  Moses,  "Alas  my  Lord,  I  beseech 
thee,  lay  not  the  sin  upon  us,  we  have  done  foolishly 
and  have  sinned.     Let  her  not  be  as  one  dead." 

Then  Moses  cried  unto  God  to  heal  her  and  God  heard 
Moses'  cry  and  healed  her,  but  shut  her  out  of  camp  for 
seven  days. 

We  have  two  lessons  there.  God  will  not  let  people 
speak  evil  of  his  servants  and  not  punish  them. — And 
God  will  hear  the  prayers  of  his  servants  for  those  that 
repent  and  ask  forgiveness  and  he  will  heal  them. 
God  has  been  the  healer  of  his  people  through  all  gen- 
erations, when  they  will  fulfill  his  conditions. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

MOSES'    BURDEN. 

Moses  is  still  leading  the  children  through  the  wilder- 
ness, but  feels  the  burden  more  than  he  can  bear. 

He  goes  and  tells  it  to  the  Lord,  he  says,  I  heard  the 
people  weeping  all  through  the  camp,  and  every  man 
in  his  tent  and  God  was  very  angry.  Moses  also  was 
disappointed,  and  said  unto  the  Lord,  "Why  hast  thou 
afflicted  thy  servant  so?  What  have  I  done  th'at  I 
have  not  found  favor  in  thy  sight;  that  thou  lay  est  the 
burden  of  all  this  people  upon  me?  Have  I  conceived 
all  the  people  or  have  I  begotten  them,  that  thou 
shouldst  say  to  me  'Carry  them  in  thy  bosom,  as  a 
father  beareth  his  child  into  the  land  that  thou  swearest 
to  give  unto  their  fathers.'  I  am  not  able  to  bear  all 
this  people  alone,  because  the  burden  is  too  heavy  for 
me." 

Moses  did  not  seem  to  understand  that  God  was 
honoring  him  by  choosing  him  for  such  a  responsible 
position.  But  the  same  burden  was  taken  up  by 
Christ,  he  bore  it  alone  and  never  faltered. 

Just  as  Moses  was  called  to  lead  the  children  of 
Israel  through  the  wilderness  back  to  the  land  God 
had  promised  them,  so  Christ  was  called  to  lead  the 
sinful  children  of  God  through  this  world  and  out  of  it, 
back  again  to  the  home  of  their  father. 

But  he  had  to  pay  a  ransom  before  he  could  do  it. 

118 


Moses'  Burden  119 

He  paid  the  ransom  of  his  own  Ufe,  and  bore  the  bur- 
den alone,  won  the  victory,  and  went  back  to  his  Father's 
home. 

Moses  only  got  a  look  at  the  promised  land  for  he 
was  living  under  the  natural  law,  but  Moses  was  quite 
satisfied  to  view  it  at  that  time,  for  he  knew  no  one 
could  no  any  more  than  look  forward  to  the  promised 
land  under  the  natural  law.  But  he  knew  the  time  was 
coming  when  he  would  be  reclothed  under  the  spiritual 
law,  and  would  then  enter  into  the  glorious  land  of 
promise  with  all  the  rest  of  the  faithful.  All  the  pa- 
triarchs knew  they  had  to  be  reclothed  under  the 
spiritual  covenant  before  they  could  receive  their  ever- 
lasting life.  They  had  to  work  out  their  own  salva- 
tion, as  all  have  to  do.  But  Moses  wanted  help  and 
God  said  he  should  have  it.  He  told  him  to  gather 
seventy  men  of  the  elders  of  Israel,  and  bring  them 
into  the  Tabernacle,  and  he  would  come  down  and  speak 
to  them.  "I  will  take  of  the  spirit  which  is  upon  thee 
and  will  put  it  upon  them.  They  shall  help  thee  to 
bear  thy  burden."  God  did  not  say  he  would  put  his 
spirit  on  them,  but  he  would  take  some  of  the  spirit 
that  was  on  Moses  to  put  on  those  men  that  were  going 
to  help  Moses  in  the  work  of  God.  Moses  had  to  gather 
together  the  men  that  he  felt  sure  were  suited  for  the 
work,  but  God  had  to  come  and  put  the  spirit  upon 
them. 

They  were  not  ready  for  God's  service  until  the  spirit 
was  put  upon  them. 

Then  what  happened  when  the  spirit  rested  upon 
them? 


120  The  Spirit  Father 

It  came  to  pass  when  the  spirit  rested  upon  them, 
they  prophesied  and  did  not  cease. 

There  were  two  men  remained  in  the  camp,  they  did 
not  go  into  the  Tabernacle  but  the  spirit  rested  on 
them  also.  They  prophesied  in  the  camp,  and  one  of 
the  men  ran  out  to  Moses  to  tell  him  and  asked  Moses 
to  forbid  the  men  prophesying.  Moses  said,  "  Dost  thou 
envy  them  for  my  sake?  Do  not:  for  I  wish  all  the 
Lord's  people  were  prophets  and  that  God  would  put 
his  spirit  upon  them  all."'  I  can  say  with  Moses:  I  wish 
with  all  my  heart  that  God  could  find  all  his  children 
ready  to  receive  his  blessing. 

Still  the  people  murmured,  saying,  "Let  us  make  a 
captain  to  take  us  back,  let  us  return  to  Egypt."  God 
heard  them  and  his  anger  was  kindled  against  them. 
He  said,  "I  will  smite  them  and  disinherit  them." 
That  is  just  what  our  spirit  father  is  saying  to  us.  He 
will  disinherit  us  for  our  disobedience. 

Moses  pleads  for  them  again  saying,  "Oh,  Lord,  as 
thou  hast  forgiven  them  so  many  times  since  thou 
brought  them  out  of  Egypt,  wilt  thou  forgive  them 
once  more?" 

The  Lord  said:  "I  will  pardon  again  as  thou  hast 
asked;  but  as  truly  as  I  live,  I  will  be  obeyed,  and  the 
whole  world  shall  be  filled  with  my  glory.  Because  all 
those  men  which  have  seen  my  glory,  and  all  the  mir- 
acles which  I  have  done  before  them,  have  not  obeyed 
but  have  tempted  me.  Ten  times  they  would  not 
barken  unto  my  voice.  Therefore  they  shall  not  see 
the  land  which  I  promised  to  their  fathers.  But  my 
servant  Caleb,  because  he  had  another  spirit,  and  hath 


Moses  viewing  the  Promised  Land, 


Moses'  Burden  121 

obeyed  me  fully,  him  will  I  bring  into  the  land,  and  his 
seed  shall  possess  it.  But  as  surely  as  I  live  all  that 
have  murmured  against  me,  their  carcases  shall  fall 
in  this  wilderness.  Every  one  from  twenty  years 
upward.  But  all  these  little  ones,  that  they  said  had 
been  brought  into  the  wilderness  to  die,  I  will  bring 
them  out  of  the  wilderness  in  safety;  and  they  shall 
see  the  land  which  their  fathers  have  despised.  They 
shall  know  that  I  am  the  God  of  Israel. 

"We  see  here  God  in  speaking  of  the  destroying 
of  his  people  in  the  wilderness  was  only  going  to 
destroy  their  flesh  and  it  was  going  to  be  left  lying 
in  the  wilderness  till  it  wasted  away.  There  would 
be  no  burying  for  them.  Death  for  the  flesh,  but  no 
resurrection  promised.  For  the  fowls  of  the  air  were 
invited  to  come  and  eat  the  flesh  of  the  kings,  and  the 
flesh  of  the  captains  and  of  all  the  mighty  men.  So 
that  was  to  be  the  end  of  that  flesh.  But  God  took  his 
spirit  children.  The  Lord  told  Aaron  that  his  work 
was  done,  and  told  Moses  to  take  him  up  to  Mount  Hor, 
and  strip  him  of  his  garments  and  put  them  upon  his 
son.  That  Aaron  would  die  there  and  be  gathered 
unto  his  people.  So  Moses  did  as  God  commanded  him 
and  Aaron  died  on  the  top  of  the  mountain. 

Moses  numbered  again  the  children  of  Israel  in  the 
plains  of  Moab,  by  Jordan.  There  was  not  one  man 
among  them  that  was  over  twenty  when  they  were 
numbered  in  the  wilderness  by  Sinai.  For  God  said 
they  shall  surely  die  in  the  wilderness.  Only  Caleb, 
because  he  obeyed  and  believed  God. 


122  The  Spirit^  Father 

We  can  see  how  God  keeps  his  word  to  punish  as  well 
as  to  save. 

The  Lord  also  called  Moses  and  told  him  his  work 
was  done,  that  he  would  be  called  to  his  people  as  his 
brother  Aaron.  For  he  had  rebelled  against  God's  com- 
mand. 

In  what  had  Aaron  and  Moses  disobeyed? 

God  told  them  to  speak  to  the  rock  and  the  water 
would  come  out,  but  in  place  of  speaking  to  the  rock 
Moses  struck  the  rock  and  the  water  came. 

Many  of  us  think  it  does  not  matter  just  what  way 
we  do  God's  work,  as  we  think  we  can  get  the  same  re- 
sults from  it  by  doing  it  our  own  way,  as  by  doing  it 
God's  way. 

Let  us  take  a  warning  from  Moses.  The  water  came 
just  the  same  when  Moses  struck  the  rock,  as  if  he  had 
spoken.  But  his  way  displeased  God  for  he  did  not 
do  as  God  had  commanded  him. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


JOSHUA, 


When  the  Lord  told  Moses  his  work  was  done  and 
he  had  to  die;  he  pleaded  with  the  Lord  for  a  successor 
to  be  put  in  his  place,  that  the  children  of  Israel  might 
not  be  left  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd. 

Moses'  heart  was  with  the  people  even  after  all  the 
trouble  they  had  given  him.  He  could  not  bear  to 
leave  them  without  someone  to  lead  them  out  of  the 
wilderness  and  bring  them  into  the  land  that  God  had 
promised  them. 

The  Lord  told  Moses  to  take  Joshua  because  he  had 
been  faithful,  and  had  an  obedient  spirit  in  him. 
Another  servant  God  was  going  to  use,  but  he  had  to 
be  made  ready  for  the  work. 

The  Lord  told  Moses  to  put  his  hands  on  Joshua,  and 
some  of  his  honors  upon  him,  that  all  the  children  of 
Israel  might  obey  him,  and  be  led  by  him  as  they  had 
by  Moses.  And  Moses  did  all  that  the  Lord  com- 
manded. Joshua  was  then  ready  to  take  up  the  work 
that  Moses  was  called  away  from. — So  has  it  been 
through  all  ages  to  the  present  day. 

God,  our  spirit  father,  has  chosen  his  own  servants 
from  among  his  own  faithful  children.  But  they  have 
all  had  to  be  made  ready  in  God's  own  way,  for  the 
work  he  has  needed  them  for. 

123 


124  The  Spirit  Father 

Joshua  did  not  go  to  the  Mount  as  Moses  did,  to  get 
the  commands  from  God,  for  he  was  to  follow  out  all 
the  laws  and  commands  that  Moses  had  given.  God 
spake  to  Joshua  and  told  him  what  he  was  to  do. 
He  was  to  gather  all  the  children  of  Israel  and  take 
them  over  Jordan,  and  God  would  be  with  him  as  he  had 
been  with  Moses.  And  if  he  would  be  of  good  courage 
and  obey,  there  would  be  no  man  able  to  stand  before 
him  all  his  life;  for  God  would  never  leave  him  nor 
forsake  him.  But  he  must  not  turn  to  the  right  hand 
or  to  the  left,  but  go  straight  forward  and  he  would 
prosper,  nor  must  he  let  the  laws  and  commands 
depart  out  of  his  life,  but  meditate  on  them  day  and 
night,  and  do  all  that  is  written  therein.  Then  would 
he  have  good  success. 

Oh,  good  and  loving  Father.  All  his  promises  of  good 
are  made  on  condition  of  our  obedience  to  him. 

As  Moses  led  the  children  through  the  Red  Sea,  so 
Joshua  led  them  through  the  Jordan,  and  the  waters 
were  divided. 

We  hear  many  lessons  on  Moses  passing  through  the 
Red  Sea  and  the  dividing  of  the  waters;  but  we  seldom 
hear  a  lesson  on  the  dividing  of  the  Jordan.  Joshua 
told  the  priests  to  lift  the  ark  and  bear  it  into  the  wat- 
ers. As  soon  as  the  priests'  feet  were  dipped  into  the 
waters,  the  water  from  one  side  stood  up  in  a  heap,  and 
the  waters  on  the  other  side  were  cut  off.  And  the 
priests  stood  on  dry  ground  until  all  the  people  had 
passed  over. 

Then  Joshua  called  twelve  men  that  he  had  prepared; 
one  out  of  every  tribe  was  to  take  up  a  stone  out  of  the 


Joshua  125 

midst  of  the  Jordan  and  bear  them  over  before  the 
ark,  that  when  their  children  asked  their  fathers  (in 
time  to  come)  what  was  the  meaning  of  those  stones? 
they  would  be  told  "They  are  a  memorial  to  the 
children  of  Israel  forever." 

Every  tribe  was  to  have  one  stone. 

Where  do  we  find  the  symbol  of  the  stone?  In  the 
new  covenant. — Christ  the  chief  corner  stone. 

When  the  priest  came  out  of  the  waters  the  waters 
rolled  together  again  and  overflowed  the  banks.  Joshua 
had  brought  them  all  over  into  the  land  of  Canaan, 
How  glad  they  must  have  been  to  eat  the  corn  and 
fruit  of  the  land,  after  living  on  manna  forty  years. 

Now  when  Joshua  had  gotten  the  people  all  safely 
into  Canaan,  the  next  thing  the  Lord  gave  him  to  do, 
was  to  lead  the  people  to  battle.  And  as  long  as  they 
did  what  was  right,  and  obeyed  God;  they  conquered 
their  enemies. 

But  one  of  them  by  the  name  of  Achan  had  a  covetous 
eye,  and  took  of  the  spoils  of  the  enemy,  gold  and 
silver  and  hid  them,  which  he  had  been  forbidden  to 
do.  He  had  sinned  before  God,  although  he  had 
hidden  his  sin  from  all  the  rest. 

So  when  they  went  out  to  the  next  battle  God  was 
not  with  them,  because  of  the  sin  of  Achan,  so  they 
lost  the  first  battle  with  Ai.  God  told  Joshua  to  find 
out  who  had  committed  the  sin. 

When  Joshua  found  out  it  was  Achan  they  took 
Achan  and  put  him  to  death.  Then  the  Lord's  anger 
was  turned  away  from  them,  and  he  went  before  them 
ftgain  in  their  next  battle. 


126  The  Spirit  Father 

But  we  have  a  lesson  here — we  see  before  God  would 
give  them  any  more  help  or  victory  over  their  enemies, 
Joshua  had  to  take  those  that  had  sinned  and  put 
them  to  death. 

But  when  they  had  cleared  out  Achan  and  all  that 
belonged  to  him  from  the  camp  then  the  Lord  was 
pleased  with  them  and  told  Joshua  to  get  ready  again 
and  go  forward  to  battle.  And  have  no  fear,  for  God 
would  be  with  them  and  no  man  would  be  able  to  stand 
before  them. 

God  did  not  take  a  sword  in  his  hand  and  go  in 
front  of  the  enemy,  but  there  were  more  killed  by  the 
great  shower  of  hailstones  that  God  cast  down  from 
heaven  on  them  than  were  slain  by  the  children  of 
Israel  with  the  sword. 

When  God  does  his  work  hiniself,  he  does  it  from 
heaven  and  in  a  mysterious  way,  for  God's  works  are 
mysterious  to  us.  When  he  uses  human  instruments 
to  do  his  work,  though  they  can  understand  many 
things  they  do  not  understand  all;  for  there  is 
always  a  mystery  of  some  kind  in  the  spirit  work,  that 
the  men  and  women  that  God  chooses  and  makes  ready 
cannot  understand  how  the  work  is  done  or  what  the 
results  will  be.  They  simply  do  what  they  are  led  to 
do  by  the  spirit  and  leave  the  rest  with  God.  For  God 
gives  both  hght  and  wisdom,  and  opens  the  understand- 
ing of  all  his  chosen  servants  before  he  gives  them  the 
work  and  then  leads  them  on. 

God  kept  his  promise  to  be  with  them  and  they 
conquered  and  won  all  their  battles. 

Joshua  was  old  and  the  Lord  said  to  him  "He  was 


Joshua  127 

getting  up  in  years,  and  there  was  much  unsubdued 
land  yet  to  be  taken."  But  Joshua  was  too  old  to  go 
into  battle  again,  so  he  was  told  to  divide  the  land  in 
lots  to  the  children  of  Israel,  and  every  tribe  would 
have  to  fight,  and  drive  the  enemy  from  their  own 
possessions — with  the  help  of  God. 

The  same  work  that  was  done  in  that  generation, 
God  is  carrying  on  in  this — in  the  subduing  of  nations 
that  are  enemies  to  God  and  his  work.  And  God  will 
carry  on  his  work  with  human  instruments  until  every 
enemy  of  Christ  is  subdued,  and  put  under  his  feet. 

But  in  this  generation  the  greatest  of  God's  work 
will  not  be  done  with  rapid  firing  guns,  or  torpedo 
boats;  but  will  be  done  by  the  sword  of  the  spirit — 
the  word  of  God.  The  Gospel  as  taught  by  Christ  will 
be  driven  into  the  heart  of  man  and  woman  until 
Satan,  sin  and  the  world  are  conquered.  And  nations 
will  be  born  in  a  day  to  God,  and  the  rebel  children 
that  will  be  saved — brought  back  to  their  spirit  father. 

So  Joshua  before  he  died  called  all  the  children  of 
Israel  around  him  and  told  them  that  God  had  given 
them  land  which  they  had  not  labored  for,  and  cities 
which  they  had  not  built.  That  if  they  served  the 
Lord  in  sincerity  and  in  truth  all  would  be  well  with 
them.  But  they  were  to  choose  that  day  whom  they 
would  serve,  and  they  said:  "We  will  serve  the  Lord 
our  God."  And  Joshua  said,  "Then  you  are  witnesses 
against  yourselves  that  ye  have  chosen  the  Lord  to  serve 
him?"    And  they  said,  "We  are  witnesses." 

(That  is  what  every  one  in  this  generation  is,  that 
have   confessed   Christ,    they    are   witnesses   against 


128  The  Spirit  Father 

themselves  that  they  have  accepted  Christ,  and  God 
looks  for  them  to  obey  him.) 

Joshua  bid  "good-bye"  to  all  his  people — for  his 
work  was  done.  He  died,  being  a  hundred  and  ten 
years  old. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

GIDEON. 

After  the  death  of  Joshua  the  children  of  Israel  fell 
into  idolatry.  They  turned  away  from  the  Lord,  and 
did  evil  in  the  sight  of  God  by  turning  away  from  him, 
and  serving  Baal. 

God's  anger  was  turned  against  them  and  he  let 
them  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  And  wherever 
they  went  they  were  overcome,  until  they  could  no 
longer  stand  before  their  enemy.  They  were  in  great 
distress  and  cried  unto  the  Lord,  until  he  pitied  them. 
And  sent  help  by  giving  them  judges,  that  delivered 
them  out  of  the  hands  of  their  oppressors.  They  then 
obeyed  and  served  God  as  long  as  the  judges  lived. 
But  at  soon  as  the  judges  died  and  they  were  left 
again  to  follow  their  own  will,  they  turned  to  serve 
Baal,  and  broke  the  laws  and  commands  of  God;  till 
God's  anger  was  turned  against  them  again,  and  he 
said  he  would  drive  out  no  more  of  the  nations  that 
Joshua  had  not  conquered  when  he  died.  But  would 
leave  them  to  prove  the  children  of  Israel.  To  see 
whether  they  would  serve  God  or  Baal. 

(This  lesson  typifies  the  world  since  the  death  of 
Christ.  When  Christ  finished  his  work  on  earth,  the 
nations  were  a  mixture  of  good  and  bad.  Some  had 
turned  to  God  through  Christ  and  gladly  received  his 

129 


130  The  Spirit  Father 

teachings;  and  others  still  remained  in  their  heathen 
darkness,  served  and  worshiped  Baal.  But  instead 
of  God  destro}ang  all  those  that  would  not  receive  his 
promise  and  commands  through  Christ  and  turn  and 
serve  the  God  of  Heaven.  He  left  them  mixed  to- 
gether to  prove  those  that  would  be  faithful  and  to 
gather  in  others  that  would  believe  and  turn  to  God. 

That  is  the  condition  we  find  the  world  in,  in  this 
age.  But  God  will  only  permit  the  world  to  remain 
in  that  condition  until  his  appointed  time.  Then  the 
people  and  nations  that  will  not  worship  and  serve  the 
God  of  heaven  will  be  banished  from  the  face  of  the 
earth.  No  more  mixing  up  of  the  good  and  the  bad, 
the  earth  will  be  cleansed  of  all  but  the  true  children 
of  God. 

An  angel  of  the  Lord  came  and  told  them  that  they 
would  be  left  among  their  enemies,  that  they  would  be 
as  thorns  in  their  sides.  And  their  gods  would  be 
snares  to  them. 

And  when  the  children  of  Israel  heard  it  they  lifted 
up  their  voices  and  wept.  But  that  did  not  help  them 
any,  because  though  they  wept  they  did  not  repent 
and  turn  from  their  sins. 

Just  as  tens  of  thousands  do  in  this  generation.  If 
they  are  caught  in  their  sin  and  crimes  and  are  pun- 
ished for  them,  they  are  ready  enough  to  weep  and 
ask  forgiveness;  but  as  soon  as  they  think  the  punish- 
ment is  over,  they  are  just  as  ready  to  begin  the  same 
life  over  again  until  they  are  found  out,  then  more 
weeping,  more  punishments,  and  more  promises  to  do 
better,  but  no  true  repentance,  and  that  is  the  one 


Gideon  131 

thing  that  God,  our  father,  will  have.  True  repentance. 
Give  up  all  sin  and  begin  a  new  life.  But  God  pun- 
ished them  again  by  delivering  them  into  the  hands  of 
the  Midianites  for  seven  years,  and  they  had  to  live  in 
dens  and  caves  in  the  mountains.  The  Midianites  came 
up  and  destroyed  all  they  had  and  left  them  nothing 
to  live  on. 

They  cried  again  to  their  God  and  Father  and  God 
in  his  love  and  mercy  came  to  their  aid  again. — Oh 
loving  Father!  no  child  mil  ever  cry  to  thee  for  help 
and  not  receive  it,  if  they  will  only  obey  and  do  as  thou 
hast  commanded  them.  The  Lord  sent  Gideon  to  de- 
liver them  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Midianites.  But 
Gideon  was  afraid  and  cried,  "Oh,  Lord,  what  can  I  do? 
I  am  only  a  poor  man,  and  my  family  is  poor." 

The  Lord  answered,  "Surely  I  will  be  with  thee,  and 
thou  shalt  smite  the  Midianites  as  one  man." 

We  see  those  five  words  changed  the  whole  matter, 
when  God  said  "I  will  be  Avith  thee."  Gideon  was  only 
the  human  instrument  that  God  was  going  to  use. 
But  God  himself  was  going  to  do  the  work. 

Still  Gideon  was  afraid  and  asked  God  to  give  him  a 
sign,  to  let  him  know  that  he  would  be  with  him. 

We  see  when  God  chooses  his  own  servants,  if  they 
are  humble  and  poor,  they  can  hardly  believe  they  are 
the  one  chosen  to  do  such  great  deeds,  or  such  glorious 
work  as  many  of  them  are  chosen  for.  Gideon  was  only 
a  poor  man  threshing  wheat  when  the  Lord  called  him, 
and  when  the  angel  brought  the  message  to  him  with 
the  words,  "The  Lord  is  with  thee,  thou  mighty  man 
of  valour!"    Still  Gideon  could  not  believe,  for  he 


132  The  Spirit  Father 

cried,  "Oh,  my  Lord,  if  thou  be  with  us,  why  then  is  all 
this  befallen  us,  and  where  are  all  the  miracles  which 
our  fathers  told  us  of?  Did  not  the  Lord  bring  us  out 
of  Egypt  and  he  has  forsaken  us,  for  we  have  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  Midianites." 

The  Lord  looked  on  him  and  said,  "Go  as  I  have 
told  thee,  and  thou  shalt  save  Israel  from  the  iMidianitcs, 
and  fear  not,  have  I  not  sent  thee?" 

What  a  grand  lesson  we  find  here  to  many  of  the 
self-constituted  servants  in  God's  work  to-day.  They 
never  ask  if  they  are  chosen  of  God,  or  if  God  ^\^ll  be 
with  them. 

It  is  many  a  parent's  wish  for  their  sons  to  become 
ministers.  And  they  bring  them  up  to  look  forward  to 
the  time  that  they  must  go  to  college  and  university  to 
get  ready  for  their  chosen  profession.  And  if  they 
finish  their  course  with  honor,  they  come  out  thinking 
they  are  ready  and  fully  equipped  to  go  out  in  God's 
service,  without  perhaps,  ever  thinking  for  a  moment, 
or  asking  themselves  "I  wonder  if  God  wants  my 
services  or  if  he  is  at  the  present  moment  needing  a 
servant."  Our  spirit  father  is  always  needing  good, 
obedient,  loving  and  willing  children.  Willing  always 
to  do  all  the  services  that  any  good  and  obedient  child 
could  do  for  a  loving  father.  But  God,  is  not  perhaps 
requiring  servants  at  any  moment  or  time  that  we  may 
feel  disposed  to  go  into  his  service  or  to  take  hold  of 
his  v.-ork  and  do  it  in  a  way  that  suits  us,  or  may  be 
best  for  our  own  advancement.  That  is  what  is  the 
trouble  with  God's  work  in  the  present  age. 

Thousand  arc  appointing  themselves  God's  servants 


Gideon  133 

and  doing  the  work, — every  one  in  their  own  way,  and 
according  to  their  own  light.  All  the  time  forgetting 
that  no  man  can  do  God's  work  unless  he  has  been 
hired  by  the  master  and  received  the  seal, — the  Holy 
Spirit. 

Then  their  understanding  will  be  opened,  they  will 
read  the  teaching  from  the  Bible  with  the  spirit's  light. 
They  would  be  able  to  do  God's  work  in  God's  way,  if 
God  calls  them.  But  no  man  no  matter  how  good  he 
may  think  or  feel  himself  to  be,  or  however  anxious  to 
be  in  God's  service,  is  fit  for  the  work,  if  he  can  only 
read  the  Gospels  with  the  human  eyes.  We  must  have 
the  spirit's  light  before  we  can  do  the  work  as  God  wants 
it  done.  But  it  takes  those  who  have  first  read  ^vdth 
the  human  eyes,  perhaps  for  years  before  they  re- 
ceived the  spirit's  light,  to  know  and  understand  the 
difference  between  the  two  lights. 

That  is  why  the  work  of  God  is  in  the  tumult  it  is 
at  the  present  age.  Things  seem  to  be  turned  upside 
down  until  multitudes  of  people,  even  those  who  call 
themselves  Christians  do  not  know  which  way  to  turn 
or  where  to  look  for  light.  For  the  blind  shepherds  are 
leading  their  blind  flocks.  But  God  hears  the  cry  of 
his  children  to-day,  as  surely  as  he  heard  the  cry  of  the 
children  of  Israel  when  he  sent  Gideon  to  deliver  them 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  Midianites.  God  has  sent  his 
chosen  servants  out  in  every  age,  for  a  world-v/ide 
work,  in  every  forward  step  he  has  taken,  in  his  plan, 
for  the  bringing  back  of  his  children,  and  is  sending 
chosen  servants  now  to  deliver  his  children  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  blind  and  false,  teachers  that  are  mis- 


134  The  Spirit  Father 

leading  them,  by  either  holding  back  a  part  of  the 
Gospels'  teachings  or  falsifying  them  to  suit  their  own 
light.  Many  good  men  may  be  doing  this  through 
ignorance,  but  many  know  themselves  that  they  are 
not  true  servants  of  God.  And  multitudes  of  God's 
people  are  awakening  to  their  true  condition,  and  cry- 
ing to  their  father  for  help.  And  he  is  sending  it  to 
them  by  giving  the  spirit's  light  to  thousands  of  his 
people  individually. 

Gideon  gathered  together  an  army  of  thirty-two 
thousand  to  go  with  him  to  deliver  the  children  of 
Israel.  But  God  sent  word  to  Gideon,  that  he  had  too 
many,  for  God  knew  they  were  not  all  true  men. 
Gideon  was  told  to  tell  all  those  who  were  fearful  or 
afraid,  to  return  to  their  homes,  and  twenty-two 
thousand  turned  back,  leaving  ten  thousand  with 
Gideon.  But  God  told  him  he  still  had  too  many  and 
that  he  was  to  bring  them  down  to  the  water,  and  God 
would  test  them  there;  and  show  him  the  men  who 
were  fitted  for  his  service,  and  those  that  were  not. 
Gideon  brought  down  the  ten  thousand  that  were  with 
him  to  the  water  to  drink.  Nine  thousand  seven 
hundred  bowed  down  upon  their  knees  to  drink,  and 
three  hundred  Ufted  the  water  up  in  their  hands  and 
lapped  it  up  with  their  tongue.  Gideon  was  told  to 
take  only  the  three  hundred  that  lifted  the  water  and 
lapped  it,  and  to  send  all  the  others  back  to  their  place. 
Oh,  how  quick  is  the  eye  of  God,  to  see  and  detect 
things  that  man  might  never  pay  any  attention  to.    - 

What  do  we  see  in  the  different  attitudes  of  the  men 
drinking  the  water? 


Gideon  135 

A  soldier  on  duty  is  expected  to  be  always  on  the 
watch  for  the  enemy.  So  the  eye  of  God  was  quick  to 
see  that  the  men  that  went  down  on  their  knees  to 
drink,  were  looking  at  the  water,  and  could  not  see  the 
enemy  coming  on  them  unawares.  God  knew  they 
were  not  fit  for  his  service,  so  sent  them  back. 

(How  many  in  this  age  are  looking  at  their  drink 
that  do  not  see  the  enemy  coming  on  them  unawares.) 

But  the  three  hundred  that  stood  up  could  be  on  the 
watch  and  ready  for  the  enemy  at  the  same  time. 

God  knew  he  could  do  more  with  three  hundred  men 
that  were  true  and  could  be  trusted  than  with  all  the 
thirty-two  thousand  mixed  up  of  all  kinds. 

And  what  God  could  do  in  Gideon's  time  with  three 
hundred  true  men,  he  can  do  at  any  other  time.  God 
is  raising  up  and  sending  out  many  tried  and  true  men 
as  his  servants.  His  servants  have  been  too  long  of  a 
mixed  kind. 

But  God  is  bringing  them  down  to  the  waters  and 
trying  them  and  he  has  begun  to  separate  the  faithful 
shepherds  from  the  unfaithful.  And  there  is  no  doubt 
he  will  keep  on  doing  so,  for  that  is  his  promise,  that 
he  will  give  shepherds  according  to  his  own  heart. 
And  no  promise  God  has  made  to  his  children  will  ever 
be  broken;  and  thousands  of  his  children  are  crying  to 
him  now  to  fulfill  the  promise. 

So  Gideon  took  his  three  hundred  men  and  divided 
them  into  three  companies  and  got  them  ready  for 
battle. 

In  place  of  giving  them  swords,  he  gave  every  man 
a  trumpet,  a  pitcher,  and  a  lamp,  very  strange  weapons 


136  The  Spirit  Father 

to  go  out  with  against  a  mighty  army.  But  God  does 
his  work  with  strange  weapons. 

Let  me  here  interpret  what  those  three  strange 
weapons  symbolize.  The  trumpet,  the  human  mouth; 
the  pitcher,  the  body,  that  holds  the  living  water,  the 
word  of  God;  the  lamp,  the  Holy  Spirit— I  he  three 
most  powerful  weapons  in  the  world,  when  they  are 
used  by  the  chosen  instruments  of  God. 

When  Gideon  had  three  hundred  such  instruments 
he  had  a  royal  equipped  army. 

All  that  Gideon's  three  hundred  men  had  to  do  was  each 
to  blow  the  trumpet,  and  break  the  pitchers  they  had 
in  their  hands  and  cry,  "The  sword  of  the  Lord."  And 
the  Lord  put  such  fear  into  the  hearts  of  the  enemy, 
and  there  were  multitudes,  that  the  whole  host  fled 
before  Gideon  and  his  few  men.  The  people  were  so 
pleased  with  Gideon,  because  they  thought  he  had 
delivered  them,  they  wanted  to  make  Gideon  and 
his  sons  rulers  over  them.  But  Gideon  said,  "No,  I 
will  not  rule  over  you  neither  will  my  sons,  but  the 
Lord  shall  rule  over  you." 

For  Gideon  knew  that  he  had  not  delivered  them  and 
he  dare  not  take  to  himself  glory  that  belonged  to  the 
Lord. 

So  God  in  his  love  and  mercy  had  delivered  the 
children  of  Israel  again.  But  they  did  not  obey  their 
Father. 

0,  no,  even  Gideon  did  wrong  in  taking  gold  from 
the  enemy  1  He  melted  it  and  made  it  into  a  Ephod, 
and  it  became  a  snare  unto  himself  and  all  his  house- 
hold. 


Gideon  137 

So  Gideon's  work  was  finished  for  God.  Whenever 
God's  servants  turn  to  look  after  earthly  things  for 
their  own  pleasure  and  forget  God's  commands,  God  has 
no  use  for  them. 

It  does  not  tell  Gideon's  age,  but  says,  "He  died  of 
a  good  old  age."  After  his  death  the  children  of 
Israel  fell  into  the  hands  of  their  enemies  for  disobeying 
God,  and  turning  again  to  Baal. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


SAMSON. 


The  children  of  Israel  for  their  disobedience  were 
delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  Philistines.  God 
needed  an  instrument  to  deliver  them  from  their  ene- 
mies. But  it  seems  there  was  no  human  instrument 
that  was  suited  for  the  Avork.  So  he  had  to  prepare  one. 
How  does  he  begin?  By  sending  an  angel  with  the 
message.  (God  is  taking  his  servant  from  the  tribe 
of  the  Danites.)  There  was  a  man  and  his  \vife  by  the 
name  of  Manoah  lived  in  the  city  of  Zarah.  The 
angel  of  the  Lord  appeared  unto  the  woman  and  said, 
"Behold  thou  art  barren,  but  thou  shalt  conceive,  and 
bear  a  son.  But  beware  that  thou  drink  no  wine,  nor 
any  strong  drink,  nor  eat  anything  unclean." 

And  the  woman  told  her  husband  what  the  man  of 
God  said  unto  her.  But  Manoah  wanted  to  see  the  man 
himself,  and  hear  what  he  had  to  say. 

Manoah  prayed  God  to  send  the  man  to  them  again 
to  teach  them  what  they  should  do,  and  the  Lord  heard 
him  and  sent  his  messenger.  When  Manoah  saw  him 
he  asked,  "Art  thou  the  man  that  spoke  unto  my 
wife,"  and  he  said,  "I  am." 

So  Manoah  wanted  to  know  what  they  were  to  do 
for  the  child.  The  answer  was,  "Let  the  woman  be- 
ware of  all  I  have  said  unto  her,  she  shall  not  eat  any 

138 


Samson  139 

unclean  thing,  nor  drink  wine,  or  strong  drink,  and  see 
that  she  does  all  that  I  have  commanded  her." 

(Here  we  see  God  was  going  to  get  ready  a  garment 
for  his  spiritual  child.  And  he  wanted  the  garment 
to  be  clean  and  pure,  therefore  the  woman  was  to  eat 
nothing  unclean  nor  drink  any  strong  drink. 

The  time  was  fulfilled,  and  the  son  was  born  and  his 
name  was  called  Samson. 

The  child  grew  and  the  Lord  blessed  him  and  the 
spirit  of  the  Lord  began  to  move  him.  We  are  not 
told  anything  of  Samson's  childhood.  The  next 
we  hear  of  him  he  is  telling  his  father  that  he  has  seen 
a  woman  that  pleased  him  well  and  wanted  her  for  a 
wife.  But  when  his  father  heard  she  was  a  daughter 
of  the  Philistines,  he  was  displeased  and  wanted  him 
to  take  a  wife  of  his  own  kindred.  But  Samson  said, 
"Get  her  for  me  for  she  pleaseth  me." 

The  father  and  mother  did  not  know  that  it  was  the 
Lord  that  was  leading  him  amongst  the  Philistines  for 
the  work  he  had  for  him  to  do. 

Samson  had  to  do  some  strange  things  to  stir  up 
the  anger  of  the  Philistines  against  him  before  he  could 
do  the  work  he  was  brought  into  the  world  for. 

On  his  way  to  Tinmath  with  his  father  and  mother 
to  see  the  woman,  he  met  on  the  road  a  young  lion. 
There  Samson  had  his  first  trial  of  strength,  but  it  was 
not  his  own  strength  for  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  came 
mightily  upon  him,  and  he  caught  the  lion  and  rent  it 
as  easily  as  if  it  had  been  a  kid.  The  lion  was  there  to 
play  a  part  in  Sampson's  history,  for  when  he  was 
coming  back  on  the  same  road,  he  went  to  look  at  the 


140  The  Spirit  Father 

carcass  of  the  lion,  and  behold,  there  was  a  swarm  of 
bees  and  honey  in  it.  And  he  took  the  honey  and  ate 
it.  When  Samson  went  for  his  wife  they  made  a  feast 
for  seven  days,  as  was  the  custom  at  that  time.  Sam- 
son told  a  riddle  to  the  thirty  friends  that  were  with 
him,  and  said  if  they  could  tell  it  to  him  in  the  seven 
days,  he  would  give  them  thirty  sheets  and  thirty 
garments,  and  if  they  could  not  tell  it  to  him  in  that 
time  they  had  to  give  him  thirty  sheets  and  thirty 
garments.  The  riddle  was  "Out  of  the  eater  came 
meat,  and  out  of  the  strong  came  forth  sweetness." 
But  none  of  the  men  could  expound  it  to  him.  So  it 
came  to  the  seventh  day,  and  his  wife  had  tried  to 
get  him  to  tell  her  all  through  the  seven  days,  until  she 
troubled  him  so  much  that  he  told  her;  and  she  told  it 
on  the  seventh  day  to  her  people.  The  men  came  to 
Samson  and  said,  "We  know  the  riddle.  What  is  sweeter 
than  honey  or  stronger  than  a  lion?" 

Samson  knew  that  his  wife  had  betrayed  him,  so  his 
anger  was  kindled  against  her  and  her  people. 

So  to  be  revenged  on  them  he  caught  three  hundred 
foxes  and  tied  firebrands  to  their  tails,  set  them  on  fire 
and  let  them  into  the  cornfields,  and  vineyards  of  the 
Philistines. 

When  they  found  out  who  had  burned  their  fields 
and  could  not  find  Samson,  they  took  his  father-in-law 
and  his  wife  and  burnt  them.  But  Samson  came  upon 
the  Philistines  and  slaughtered  them. 

Another  trial  of  his  strength;  for  he  did  all  single- 
handed,  he  had  no  army  to  help  him.     God  was  using 


Samson  141 

him  in  strange  ways,  for  the  Philistines  at  that  time 
had  dominion  over  Israel. 

Three  thousand  men  went  up  to  bind  Samson,  and 
when  they  had  bound  him  with  two  new  cords,  they 
brought  him  to  the  Philistines.  When  they  were  going 
to  lay  hands  on  him,  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  came  upon 
him,  and  the  cords  that  bound  him  became  loose  and 
fell  from  his  hands.  He  saw  the  jaw-bone  of  an  ass 
and  took  it  in  his  hands  and  slew  a  thousand  men  with 
it.  Samson  had  to  do  the  work  of  a  whole  army  by 
himself. 

God  was  using  him  to  show  what  one  man  can  do,  if 
God  is  with  him.  God  commenced  his  work  against 
the  Philistines  with  a  man  of  great  strength  and 
strange  weapons. 

Then  Samson  went  to  Gaza. 

And  when  the  people  of  Gaza  heard  that  Samson  had 
come  into  their  city  they  said  they  would  surround 
him  and  lock  him  in  the  city  till  morning,  then  they 
were  going  to  kill  him. 

But  Samson  knew  what  they  were  going  to  do,  and 
he  lay  quiet  until  midnight,  then  he  got  up  and  took  up 
the  doors,  gates  and  posts  and  carried  them  on  his 
shoulders  to  the  top  of  a  hill.  When  the  people  saw 
what  he  had  done  they  were  all  amazed  and  wondered 
wherein  lay  his  great  strength. 

(Samson  I  have  no  doubt  was  just  like  the  other 
men,  for  his  strength  did  not  come  from  having  a  large 
body.) 

Samson  fell  in  love  with  another  woman  by  the  name 


142  The  Spirit  Father 

of  Delilah,  and  the  Lords  of  the  Philistines  came  to  her 
and  said  if  she  would  find  out  for  them  wherein  lay 
Samson's  strength,  they  would  each  give  her  eleven 
hundred  pieces  of  silver,  so  she  tried  to  entice  him  to 
tell  her.  (Like  many  another  man  that  puts  himself 
into  the  power  of  a  woman  that  he  has  no  business  with, 
she  is  ready  to  betray  him  at  any  moment  for  a  sum 
of  money.) 

Delilah  tried  to  get  him  to  tell  her  where  lay  his 
strength  and  how  it  could  be  taken  away. 

But  Samson  knew  why  she  asked  him  and  he  told 
her  if  they  bound  him  with  seven  green  withes,  they 
would  take  away  his  strength. 

So  they  bound  him  with  the  withes,  but  he  broke 
them  as  a  thread  of  twine.  Then  he  told  her  if  they 
bound  him  with  new  ropes,  so  they  tried  that,  and  he 
broke  them  off  like  a  thread. 

She  tried  him  again  and  he  told  her  if  she  would 
weave  seven  locks  of  his  hair  into  her  web.  She  did  as 
he  told  her  while  he  was  asleep,  and  when  she  had  it 
all  done,  she  cried,  "Samson  the  PhiUstines  are  upon 
thee."  He  awoke  and  went  off  carrying  the  beam  and 
web  all  with  him. 

But  Delilah  was  determined  to  find  out  what  she 
wanted  to  know. 

And  she  gave  him  no  peace  day  by  day  and  worried 
his  life  out,  till  he  told  her  all  that  was  in  his  heart. 
He  said  he  had  been  a  Nazarite  unto  God  from  his 
mother's  womb,  and  that  his  hair  had  never  been  cut 
since  he  was  born,  but  if  he  was  shaven,  then  all  his 
strength  would  go  from  him, 


Samson  143 

So  she  called  the  Philistines  when  he  was  asleep  and 
told  them. 

They  cut  off  his  locks,  and  all  his  strength  left  him. 

When  he  awoke  and  arose  to  go  out  he  found  his 
strength  was  gone,  and  the  Lord  had  departed  from 
him. 

So  the  Philistines  took  him  and  put  out  his  eyes  and 
bound  him  in  fetters  and  put  him  in  prison. 

(This  lesson  on  Delilah  and  Samson  symbolizes  a 
man  that  God  had  given  wonderful  strength,  power  and 
light  to.  And  through  the  woman  he  marries  he  was 
led  to  give  up  all  the  strength,  power  and  light  that  he 
had  gotten  from  God,  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy — the  putting  out  of  the  eyes  represents  him 
falling  into  darkness — another  symbol  of  Adam  and 
Eve.) 

The  people  all  gathered  together  to  offer  sacrifices 
unto  Dagon,  their  god,  for  they  believed  it  was  Dagon 
that  had  delivered  Samson  into  their  hands,  but  little 
did  they  think  what  would  befall  them  before  their 
merry  making  was  over.  Samson's  hair  had  begun  to 
grow  again  and  he  was  crying  to  the  Lord  to  help  him. 
They  thought  it  would  be  fun  to  have  Samson  brought 
out  of  prison  to  make  sport  for  them,  as  his  eyes  were 
out  and  he  could  not  see.  So  they  brought  him  and 
set  him  between  the  two  pillars.  The  house  was  full 
of  men  and  women  besides  three  thousand  on  the  roof. 

Samson  called  to  God  to  help  him  once  more,  and 
give  him  strength,  that  he  might  be  avenged  on  the 
Philistines  for  his  eyes.  God  gave  him  the  strength, 
for  he  took  hold  of  the  two  pillars  and  lifted  the  house 


144  The  Spirit  Father 

and  it  fell  on  all  the  people  and  killed  them.  He  met 
his  own  death,  but  he  slew  more  at  his  death  than  he 
had  during  his  life.  (0,  let  us  cry  to  God  in  our  dark- 
ness and  we  will  soon  have  light,  or  in  our  weakness, 
and  we  will  soon  have  strength.  Samson  had  done  the 
work  of  a  whole  army  and  the  best  part  he  had  done 
at  his  death.  (How  many  have  done  more  good  at 
their  death  than  in  their  lives!) 

But  what  light  do  we  get  from  the  history  of  Samson? 
First:  That  God's  word  or  command  must  go  forth 
before  the  human  fruit  can  grow.  And  the  woman 
that  wants  to  bring  forth  a  strong,  clean,  healthy  child 
must  refrain  from  all  things  unclean.  The  first  com- 
mand given  her,  was,  she  must  not  eat  anything  that 
Cometh  of  the  vine  (man  the  vine)  nor  eat  unclean 
food  or  drink  wine,  or  strong  drinks. 

Now  the  command  that  was  given  to  the  wife  of 
Manoah  to  keep  herself  clean  and  pure  in  that  time, 
is  given  to  all  women  through  all  generations. 

But  how  few  ever  think  that  they  are  called  upon 
at  any  time  to  refrain  from  anything  except  as  their 
own  inclinations  may  lead  them.  If  women  would 
only  try  and  find  out  what  are  the  laws  and  commands 
of  God  toward  them,  for  themselves,  and  enforce  the 
laws  and  commands  in  their  lives,  how  much  sorrow 
and  pain  woman  would  save  herself. 

For  it  is  not  our  Father  who  has  given  the  pain  and 
sorrow  so  many  have  to  bear,  but  we  bring  it  on  our- 
selves through  our  disobedience. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


SAMUEL, 


There  was  a  man  lived  in  Ramah,  his  name  was 
Elkanah.  He  had  two  wives,  Hannah  and  Peninnah. 
Peninnah  had  sons  and  daughters  to  her  husband,  but 
Hannah  was  barren. 

The  time  came  for  Elkanah  to  give  portions  to  his 
family,  to  Peninnah  and  her  sons  and  daughters  he 
gave  portions  of  his  wordly  goods.  But  to  Hannah  he 
gave  the  most  worthy  portion  of  all — he  loved  her. 
T.hat  made  Peninnah  jealous  and  she  said  and  did 
things  to  provoke  Hannah  and  made  her  grieve. 

The  Lord  had  closed  Hannah's  womb  and  she  was 
barren. 

So  when  Elkanah  took  his  family  up  to  offer  to  the 
Lord,  Hannah  was  so  grieved  that  she  could  only  weep, 
she  went  into  the  temple  and  poured  out  her  sorrows 
before  God  in  prayer. 

There  she  vowed  a  vow  sa5dng,  "0,  Lord,  if  thou 
wilt  look  on  my  affliction  and  give  me  a  male  child, 
then  will  I  give  him  unto  thee  all  the  days  of  his  hfe." 
And  the  Lord  heard  and  answered  her  prayer,  for 
before  she  left  the  temple  a  message  came  to  her  saying, 
"Go  in  peace,  for  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  hast  granted 
thee  thy  petition." 

Her  heart  was  cheered  and  she  was  no  more  sad, 
145 


146  The  Spirit  Father 

They  all  rose  up  early  in  the  morning  and  went  to  the 
Temple  to  worship  before  God,  then  returned  to  their 
home. 

And  Hannah  conceived  and  bore  a  son  according  to 
God's  promise.  She  said  she  would  call  his  name 
Samuel,  because  she  had  asked  him  of  the  Lord. 

Elkanah  and  all  the  rest  of  his  house  went  up  again 
to  offer  their  yearly  sacrifices  to  the  Lord,  with  the 
exception  of  Hannah.  She  said  she  would  not  go  up 
until  the  child  was  old  enough  to  be  presented  and  left 
there  in  the  Lord's  service.  Hannah  was  going  to  keep 
her  vow  and  give  him  to  the  Lord  not  knowing  whether 
she  would  be  blessed  with  any  more  children  or  not. 

So  she  brought  the  child  up  and  took  him  to  the 
house  of  the  Lord  when  he  was  quite  young  and  gave 
him  into  the  care  of  the  priest  Eli,  telling  him  that  she 
was  the  woman  that  prayed  beside  him  for  this  child. 
And  that  as  the  prayers  had  been  answered,  so  had 
she  come  back  to  keep  her  vow.  That  she  was  lending 
her  part  of  him  to  the  Lord  as  long  as  he  should  live. 

She  left  him  there  and  Samuel  began  to  minister  to 
the  Lord  from  his  childhood.  When  she  gave  her 
child  back  to  the  Lord  willingly,  he  did  not  leave  her 
childless.  The  Lord  blessed  her  and  she  bare  three 
sons  and  two  daughters. 

O,  that  we  had  more  Hannahs  in  these  days  that 
would  think  they  were  blessed  by  being  chosen  of  God 
to  bear  children,  and  that  they  were  honored  in  having 
the  care  and  bringing  up  of  God's  child. 

But  the  majority  of  the  human  race  in  this  generation 
think  it  is  a  curse  in  place  of  a  blessing. 


Samuel  147 

Samuel  began  his  work  under  the  care  of  Eli  the 
priest,  to  minister  before  the  Lord  when  he  was  quite 
young.     But  the  Lord  had  not  called  Samuel. 

His  mother  had  taken  and  left  him  with  the  priest 
to  be  educated  and  trained  in  the  house  of  God.  And 
he  grew  up  to  manhood  and  did  right  and  was  in  favor 
with  both  God  and  man. 

The  time  came  when  God  called  him,  for  one  night 
as  he  slept  he  heard  a  voice  calling,  "Samuel,"  and  he 
thought  it  was  Eli  the  priest  calling  him.  And  he 
arose  and  went  to  Eli  and  said,  "Here  am  I,  thou 
callest  me."  But  Eli  said  "  I  did  not  call  thee."  Samuel 
laid  him  down  again.  But  again  he  heard  the  voice 
call  "Samuel,"  and  he  arose  and  went  again  to  Eli, 
and  said,  "Here  am  I,  for  thou  didst  call  me."  But 
Eli  said,  "I  called  thee  not,  my  son,  go  and  lie  down 
again." 

Now  Samuel  at  that  time  had  not  known  the  Lord, 
nor  had  the  word  of  God  been  revealed  to  him.  All 
that  Samuel  knew  up  to  that  time  was  how  to  perform 
the  ceremonies  and  ordinances  of  the  church. 

How  many  of  this  present  age  are  like  Samuel,  they 
have  been  put  into  the  church  by  the  mothers  and 
fathers  and  they  are  in  the  church  from  their  youth  to 
their  old  age.  And  all  they  know  is  the  ceremonies 
and  ordinances  of  the  church. 

But  they  do  not  know  the  Lord  nor  has  his  word  ever 
been  revealed  to  them,  and  I  doubt  if  it  ever  will  be  to 
many,  for  they  have  not  lived  lives  as  Samuel  and  found 
favor  ^vith  God. 

Samuel's  childhood  pleased  God  and  he  called  him 


148  The  Spirit  Father 

into  his  service  when  he  was  old  enough  to  understand, 
and  the  Lord  had  need  of  him,  Samuel  laid  him  down 
the  third  time,  and  again  he  heard  the  voice  call 
"Samuel."  He  arose  and  went  to  Eh  and  said:  "Here 
am  I,  for  thou  didst  call  me."  Eli  knew  that  then  the 
Lord  had  called  Samuel  and  he  said,  "Lie  down  again, 
and  if  thou  hearest  the  call  again,  say,  "Speak,  Lord, 
for  th}'  servant  heareth." 

He  heard  the  call  again  and  answered  as  Eli  told  him. 
Then  God  spoke  to  him  and  told  him  all  he  had  to  do. 

Now  the  first  message  Samuel  had  to  deliver  from 
God  was  against  Eli  the  priest. 

For  God  had  let  Eli  know  of  the  wicked  and  vile  lives 
of  his  two  sons.  And  the  Lord's  anger  was  kindled 
against  Eli  because  he  only  reproved  his  sons  and  let 
them  go  on  in  their  evil  way.  The  Lord  told  Samuel 
what  he  was  to  say  to  Eli.  God  said  he  would  do  a 
thing  in  Israel  that  would  make  the  ears  of  every  one 
tingle  that  heard  of  it.  That  the  inicjuity  of  EU's  house 
should  not  again  l)e  purged  with  sacrifices  nor  offering, 
but  he  would  destroy  them  all. 

We  see  although  the  priest  knew  how  to  perform  the 
ceremonies  and  ordinances  of  the  church,  his  life  and 
the  life  of  his  family  did  not  please  God. 

What  a  lesson  there  is  in  Eli  the  priest's  life  to  many 
calling  themselves  God's  servants.  They  may  be  per- 
fect in  all  their  church  work,  Init  their  own  life  and  their 
own  household  may  not  be  right  in  the  eyes  of  God, 
although  it  may  look  all  right  in  the  eyes  of  the  world. 
But  God  will  destroy  all  such  servants  in  his  own  time 
just  as  surely  as  he  did  Eli. 


Samuel  149 

Israel  again  went  to  battle  with  the  Philistines. 
Now  what  was  God  going  to  do  in  this  battle  to  make 
the  ears  of  every  one  tingle  that  heard  of  it. 

There  are  just  three  arks  spoken  of  in  the  Bible.  We 
will  look  at  these  arks.  The  first  ark  made  was  called 
Noah's  ark.  God  told  Noah  to  make  that  for  a  refuge 
for  himself  and  his  family  and  such  other  creatures  as 
God  wished  saved  Avhen  he  destroyed  the  world.  And 
Noah  was  told  simply  to  make  it  of  gopher  wood,  and 
pitch  it  within  and  without  to  make  it  watertight.  He 
was  to  make  it  the  size  and  after  the  fashion  that  God 
told  him. 

The  next  ark  we  are  told  about  is  Moses'  ark.  When 
his  mother  could  no  longer  hide  him  from  the  wicked 
Pharaoh  she  made  an  ark  of  bulrushes  and  daubed 
it  with  pitch,  and  put  Moses  in  it,  and  laid  it  down 
by  the  river.  And  Pharaoh's  daughter  found  him 
there  and  he  was  saved. 

But  we  come  now  to  the  third  ark,  this  is  the  one 
we  have  to  speak  of. 

The  Ark  of  God.  We  see  the  other  arks  were  made  of 
the  simplest  things  that  could  be  used  for  the  purpose. 
But  let  us  see  what  the  Ark  of  God  was  to  be  made  of, 
and  what  was  to  be  its  use.  God  told  Moses  to  build 
the  ark  of  Shittim  wood,  and  to  overlay  it  with  pure 
gold  without  and  within,  and  everything  that  was 
made  for  the  ark  was  to  be  made  from  the  pure  gold. 
No  mixed  metals  to  be  used  in  God's  ark:  everything 
must  be  of  the  genuine  stuff;  no  adulteration.  (Every- 
thing that  belongs  to  God  must  be  pure.) 

We  must  be  pure  in  spirit,  pure  in  soul,  pure  in  body 


150  The  Spirit  Father 

before  we  can  be  one  of  the  redeemed  children  of  our 
spirit  father  and  fit  to  be  taken  back  to  the  house- 
hold. 

What  was  God  preparing  his  ark  for? 

To  hold  one  of  the  most  precious  things  that  God 
ever  committed  to  the  care  of  man.  The  covenant 
and  testimony  of  God  made  to  man  for  everlasting 
ages.     The  ark  was  to  hold  the  testimony  of  God. 

We  know  when  our  human  fathers  make  their  wills 
or  testimonials  they  generally  put  them  in  a  safe  place 
for  safe  keeping,  so  did  God  mir  spirit  father  have  a 
safe  place  made  to  keep  his  last  testimony  for  that 
was  his  will  for  all  ages,  and  will  never  be  changed. 

When  our  spirit  father  made  the  new  covenant  he 
did  not  alter  his  commandments  or  his  promises  to  the 
obedient  and  disobedient.  That  stands  through  all  old 
and  new  covenants  the  same.  In  the  new  covenant 
God  only  did  away  with  the  natural  or  animal  law,  and 
brought  into  force  again  the  spiritual  law,  the  law 
under  which  our  first  parents  were  placed  in  the  garden 
of  Eden  before  they  fell. 

When  the  Ark  of  God  was  finished,  God  said,  "Put 
into  the  ark  the  testimonies  I  have  given  thee  and 
shut  it  up." 

Now  the  Ark  and  testimony  were  very  precious  to  the 
children  of  Israel,  for  they  knew  God  would  never 
break  his  word. 

Samuel  sent  word  to  the  Israelites  to  get  ready  for 
battle  against  the  Philistines.  When  they  were  all 
ready  the  Philistines  came  up  against  them  and  slew 
four  thousand  of  them.     The  Israelites  were  smitten 


Samuel  151 

with  fear,  and  returned  to  their  camp,  and  said  to  the 
elders,  "Why  hath  the  Lord  smitten  us  this  day  before 
all  the  Philistines.  Let  us  go  and  bring  the  covenant 
of  the  Lord  out  of  Shiloh  and  keep  it  with  us  that  it 
may  save  us  out  of  the  hand  of  our  enemies."  They 
sent  to  Shiloh  and  brought  from  there  the  ark  and  cov- 
enant, thinking  that  could  save  them. 

And  when  the  ark  v/as  brought  into  the  camp,  all 
the  people  shouted  with  gladness  till  they  made  the 
earth  ring.  And  when  the  Philistines  heard  the  voice 
they  wanted  to  know  what  was  the  meaning  of  it. 
They  were  told  that  the  Ark  of  the  God  of  Israel  was 
brought  into  their  camp.  Great  fear  came  upon  them 
for  they  thought  God  had  come  to  take  care  of  the 
Israelites.  And  the  Philistines  held  a  meeting  and  said, 
"What  are  we  to  do,  for  God  has  come,  and  such  a 
thing  has  never  been  known  before  as  God  coming  into 
the  camp.  Woe  unto  us."  They  thought  God  was 
going  out  with  the  Israelites  to  fight  against  them. 
They  said,  "Who  is  to  deliver  us  out  of  the  hands  of 
their  mighty  God,  for  this  is  the  God  that  smote  all  the 
Egyptians  in  the  wilderness. 

They  took  counsel  together  and  said,  "Let  us  be 
strong  and  quit  ourselves  like  men,  that  we  may  not 
become  servants  of  the  Hebrews  as  they  have  been  to 
us.     Let  us  be  brave  and  fight  like  men." 

So  the  Philistines  came  up  against  the  Israelites 
again,  and  they  slew  in  that  day  thirty  thousand  and 
the  rest  fled;  and  the  Ark  of  the  Lord  was  taken  from 
them. 

The  two  sons  of  Eli  the  priest  were  slain.     There 


152  The  Spirit  Father 

ran  a  man  out  of  the  army  and  came  to  Eli  as  he  sat  by 
the  wayside  watching.  His  heart  trembled  for  he  was 
in  fear  for  the  ark. 

When  the  man  came  and  told  him  that  Hophni  and 
Phinehas  his  two  sons  were  dead,  he  felt  sorrowful. 
But  when  he  was  told  that  the  Ark  of  God  was  taken 
he  fell  off  his  seat  and  died. 

When  Phinehas's  wife  heard  that  her  husband  and 
father-in-law  were  dead  and  that  the  Ark  of  God  was 
taken,  she  bowed  herself  in  grief  and  brought  on  the 
birth  of  her  child.  She  died  and  the  woman  that  was 
wth  her  named  the  child  Ichabod,  saying,  "The  glory 
is  departed  from  Israel  for  the  Ark  of  God  is  taken." 

Many  of  our  churches  should  be  called  by  the  name 
of  Ichabod,  for  if  they  ever  had  any  glory  in  them  it 
has  surely  departed. 

What  do  we  see  in  the  act  of  God  letting  the  ark 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Philistines? 

First:  The  words  God  had  spoken  to  Samuel  of  the 
destruction  of  Eli  and  his  house,  had  been  fulfilled. 

Second:  When  God  said  he  would  do  a  thing  in 
Israel  that  would  make  the  ears  of  every  one  tingle 
that  heard  of  it,  for  such  a  thing  had  never  been  done 
before,  nor  should  it  ever  be  done  again.  But  God 
did  it  to  show  the  people  of  Israel  their  folly  in  trusting 
in  anything  but  God  himself  to  deliver  them  from 
their  enemies.  For  although  the  Philistines  might 
tliink  or  believe  the  ark  was  a  God,  the  children  of 
Israel  knew  better. 

In  place  of  them  crying  to  God  to  be  with  them  and 
deliver  them  in  their  next  battle,  they  brought  the 


Samuel  153 

ark  out  of  Shiloh  where  God  had  left  it  in  safety  and 
trusted  to  the  ark  because  it  held  God's  promises. 

But  they  soon  found  out  their  folly,  as  all  do  that 
try  to  put  a  substitute  in  God's  place.  What  was  to 
make  all  ears  of  the  people  tingle  when  they  heard  that 
the  ark  of  the  Lord  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
Philistines?  It  made  their  ears  tingle,  and  their  heart 
tremble  with  fear.  For  the  ark  had  never  been  out  of 
the  care  of  God's  children  before,  and  should  never  be 
again  but  God  took  it  out  of  their  hands  to  teach  them 
a  lesson. 

What  did  the  Philistines  do  with  the  ark?  They 
took  it  to  the  house  of  Dagon  their  god,  and  set  it  by 
him  thinking  they  had  got  another  god.  But  in  the 
morning  when  they  went  into  Dagon's  house  he  had 
fallen  on  his  face  before  the  ark.  The  Lord  was  making 
even  their  god  bow  before  his  covenant. 

They  took  Dagon  and  set  him  in  his  place  again. 
The  next  morning  when  they  went  into  Dagon's  house, 
he  was  on  his  face,  his  head  and  hands  were  cut  off,  and 
only  the  stump  was  left  of  Dagon.  They  felt  that  the 
hand  of  the  God  of  Israel  was  against  them,  so  they 
gathered  together  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  and 
asked  them  what  they  were  to  do  with  the  ark,  for 
they  would  not  have  it  with  them. 

They  did  not  know  what  to  do  with  it  and  carried  it 
about  from  city  to  city,  and  God  sent  destruction  and 
smote  the  city  wherever  the  ark  was. 

But  when  they  took  it  to  Ekrom  the  Ekromites 
cried  out  "They  have  brought  the  ark  of  the  God  of 
Israel  to  slay  us  and  our  people." 


154  The  Spirit  Father 

They  cried  to  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  to  send 
the  ark  back  to  its  own  place  for  the  hand  of  God  was 
heavy  on  them  and  their  cry  went  up  to  heaven,  and 
the  Lord  showed  them  a  way  to  send  back  the  ark. 

They  called  the  priests  to  ask  them  how  they  were 
to  send  it. 

^The  priests  told  them  to  send  trespass  offerings  with 
it,  and  the  Lord  would  forgive  them, — for  they  were 
smitten  with  emerods. 

They  got  ready  their  offerings  of  gold  to  go  with  the 
ark.  The  Philistines  were  anxious  to  know  if  it  was 
God  that  smote  them,  or  if  the  great  evils  and  troubles 
that  had  come  upon  them  was  just  a  chance. 

They  were  going  to  take  a  way  to  send  the  ark  back 
to  satisfy  themselves  if  it  was  God's  hand  or  not  that 
had  punished  them. 

They  laid  the  ark  on  a  new  cart  and  tied  to  the  cart 
two  milk  kine,  and  let  the  kine  go  by  themselves  to  see 
where  they  would  go.  For  they  said,  "If  they  go 
straight  back  to  the  Israelites  then  we  will  know  it  was 
their  God  that  was  against  us." 

Five  of  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  followed  after  the 
kine  to  see  where  they  would  go.  The  kine  went 
straight  along  the  highwa}^  lowing  as  they  went,  never 
turning  from  one  side  to  the  other  till  they  were  over 
the  border.  And  they  went  Into  Beth  Shemesh  into 
a  harvest  field  where  the  men  were  reaping,  and  the 
kine  stood  there.  When  the  men  saw  the  ark  their 
hearts  went  up  in  rejoicing.  They  were  glad  to  get  the 
ark  again. 

The  Levites  took  the  ark  and  the  offering  of  gold 


Samuel  155 

that  were  sent  with  it,  and  burnt  sacrifices  before  the 
Lord.  But  that  was  not  the  proper  place  for  the  ark, 
for  some  of  the  men  of  Beth  Shemesh  looked  into  the 
ark.  And  the  Lord's  anger  was  kindled  against  them, 
and  he  smote  over  fifty  thousand  men,  and  fear  fell  upon 
those  that  were  left. 

Those  that  looked  into  the  ark  were  prying  into 
secrets  and  mysteries  of  God,  and  God  will  let  no  man 
do  that  without  punishment. 

How  many  of  the  present  age  are  getting  punished 
for  trying  to  pry  into  God's  mysteries.  There  are 
many  to-day  losing  their  soul's  salvation,  because  they 
cannot  find  out  what  they  want  to  know  of  the  mys- 
teries of  God.  They  think  they  must  see  it  with  their 
eyes,  or  understand  it  with  their  intellect,  when  what 
they  need  is  to  understand  it  with  their  hearts. 

The  ark  was  taken  to  the  house  of  Abinadah  and 
was  there  twenty  years.  His  son  Eleazar  was  sanc- 
tified to  keep  the  ark.  Who  was  Abinadah  and  Eleazar 
that  they  were  thought  worthy  of  being  intrusted  with 
the  ark  for  twenty  years?  They  were  of  the  sons  of 
Aaron,  part  of  God's  chosen  people;  God  knew  they 
were  to  be  trusted. 

Again  the  children  of  Israel  turn  from  following  the 
Lord,  and  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  PhiUstines. 

What  did  they  do  this  time? 

They  run  to  Samuel  and  cry,  "Pray  pray,  cease  not 
to  cry  unto  the  Lord  our  God  for  us,  that  he  may  save 
us  out  of  their  hands,  and  we  will  serve  and  obey  him." 

Samuel  prayed  and  God  heard  him  and  saved  them 
that  day. 


156  The  Spirit  Father 

God  sent  great  thunder  and  smote  the  Philistines, 
they  fell  before  Israel  and  were  subdued,  and  came  no 
more  into  the  coast  of  Israel  while  Samuel  was  their 
judge. 

But  why  did  God  save  them  in  this  battle  and  sub- 
due their  enemies? 

Because  they  went  right  away  to  gei  God's  help; 
they  turned  their  hearts  to  God  and  asked  Samuel  to 
pray  for  them ;  and  promised  to  obey  their  spirit 
father's  commands.  If  Samuel  had  prayed  without 
their  asking  him,  he  would  not  have  gotten  the  help 
they  needed. 

We  can  pray  that  God  may  turn  the  hearts  of  our 
people  to  him  that  they  may  be  saved.  But  our 
prayers  cannot  save  them.  They  must  pray  and  turn 
to  our  Father  with  their  own  hearts  before  they  can  be 
saved.  How  many  are  trusting  to  the  prayers  of  their 
priests,  ministers  and  parents,  thinking  they  are  all 
right  if  any  one  prays  for  them. 

Lord  open  their  eyes 


CHAPTER  XX. 


THE    ARK. 


After  the  Ark  of  God  had  been  twenty  years  in  the 
house  of  Abinadah,  David  gathered  all  Israel  together 
and  said,  "Let  us  go  and  bring  the  Ark  of  God  to  Zion," 
that  was  the  city  of  David. 

So  they  took  the  ark  out  of  the  house  of  Abinadah 
and  put  it  on  a  new  cart.  David  and  all  Israel  played 
and  sang  with  all  their  niight  before  the  Lord  as  they 
were  bringing  the  ark.  They  were  so  overjoyed  at 
getting  it. 

As  they  came  into  Chidon  one  of  the  oxen  stumbled 
and  Uzza  put  forth  his  hand,  and  took  hold  of  the  ark, 
and  God  was  angry  with  him ;  for  no  hand  was  allowed 
to  touch  the  ark. 

There  were  staves  put  through  rings  in  the  sides  of 
the  ark  when  it  was  made,  to  carry  it  by;  and  the  ark 
was  to  be  touched  in  no  other  way.  Uzza  may  have 
put  out  his  hand  in  a  hurry  for  fear  the  ark  would  fall, 
but  he  displeased  God  by  doing  so,  and  God  smote  him 
there  on  the  spot  and  he  died. 

David  was  displeased  with  God  for  smiting  Uzza; 
but  when  David  remembered  that  he  had  no  right  to 
be  angry  at  what  God  had  done,  he  was  afraid  to 
take  the  ark  in  to  Zion,  and  he  carried  it  into  the  house 
of  Obed-edom  and  it  was  kept  there  three  months, 

157 


158  The  Spirit  Father 

until  David  felt  that  it  would  not  displease  God  for  him 
to  bring  it  up  to  the  city  of  David. 

He  then  brought  it  and  set  it  up  in  the  Tabernacle 
he  had  built  for  it,  and  offered  peace  offerings  before 
the  Lord.  And  the  people  were  so  glad  to  have  the  ark 
that  they  sang  and  played ;  even  David  danced  before 
the  ark;  and  he  distributed  to  all  the  multitude,  every 
one  a  cake,  a  good  piece  of  flesh,  and  a  flagon  of  wine; 
and  sent  them  all  to  their  own  houses  rejoicing. 

The  ark  was  kept  in  Zion,  in  the  city  of  David,  until 
Solomon  built  the  temple,  it  was  then  brought  up  and 
placed  in  the  temple,  and  there  it  was  to  remain. 

We  will  find,  the  last  time  the  ark  is  mentioned  is  in 
the  eleventh  chapter  of  Revelations.  "When  the  tem- 
ple of  God  was  opened  in  heaven,  there  was  seen  in 
heaven  the  ark  of  his  testament."  So  God  has  it  in  his 
own  care,  and  when  the  time  comes  when  it  will  be  read 
on  the  judgment  day,  we  will  find  God  has  been  and  will 
be  faithful  to  his  covenants  and  testimony  through  all 
time,  and  will  be  to  everlasting  ages  to  those  that  have 
been  faithful  in  love  and  obedience  to  their  spirit 
father.  So  will  he  be  faithful  in  his  promise  to  his 
children. 

Why  were  the  children  of  Israel  so  careful  and  so 
desirous  of  having  the  Ark  of  God  with  them?  It  was 
not  for  the  value  of  the  ark;  although  it  was  very 
valuable  being  made  of  the  most  precious  metal.  But 
it  was  what  they  knew  was  in  the  ark  that  was  valuable 
to  them.  It  contained  all  they  had  in  writing  of  the 
covenant  and  testimony  that  God  their  Father   had 


The  Ark  159 

made  with  their  human  fathers  and  to  all  their  genera- 
tions. 

No  wonder  it  was  precious,  for  if  they  had  lost  the 
ark  and  the  covenant,  what  would  they  have  had  to 
hold  God  to  his  promise  to  them. 

They  had  the  word  of  Moses,  but  Moses  was  dead. 
But  they  believed  it  was  true  or  they  would  not  have 
turned  to  God  so  many  times,  when  he  punished  them 
for  their  disobedience. 

They  knew  all  that;  but  that  is  not  having  it  in 
writing.  We  all  feel  if  we  have  any  important  matters 
to  settle  with  any  one,  even  our  fathers,  if  we  are  going 
away  from  them  for  an  indefinite  time,  we  will  make  a 
will,  and  deposit  it  in  some  safe  place  and  when  we 
know  that  is  done,  we  would  be  very  careful  of  the  box 
that  held  it,  if  it  was  put  into  our  possession  and  we 
knew  it  held  our  inheritance  from  our  birthright. 

That  is  just  what  the  ark  and  what  it  contained  was 
to  the  children  of  Israel  in  their  generation. 

Now  what  is  that  covenant  and  testimony  to  God's 
people  in  this  generation,  for  the  covenant  was  made 
to  Abraham  and  to  his  seed  forever. 

All  God's  saved  people  are  Abraham's  seed  through 
Christ.  But  where  is  our  ark  that  holds  the  precious 
covenant,  testimony  and  promises  of  our  spirit  father 
to  us. 

They  are  ours  only  on  conditions,  the  same  as  they 
were  to  our  forefathers. 

But  where  is  our  ark?  Dear  brothers  and  sisters, 
every  one  that  has  a  Bible  has  the  ark  for  this  genera- 


160  The  Spirit  Father 

tion,  and  that  holds  our  spirit  father's  testament  in  all 
its  fulhiess,  for  it  liolds  both  the  old  and  new  covenant 
The  old  covenant  was  only  made  with  the  cliildren  of 
Israel.  But  in  the  new  covenant  God  is  offering  pardon 
and  mercy  to  the  whole  human  race.  Jew  and  Gentile 
alike,  that  shows  us  the  fullness  of  our  Father's  love. 
But  what  a  price  that  new  covenant  cost!  Can 
anyone  realize  the  anguish  of  that  Father's  heart  when 
he  looked  on  that  beloved  son,  and  saw  him  sacrificed 
on  the  cross  to  pay  the  ransom,  for  carrying  the  message 
that  was  to  reconcile  the  Father  to  his  rebel  children? 

Oh,  beloved  Jesus,  our  elder  brother; 

Is  it  anj'  wonder  thou  art  the  beloved  of  our  Father? 

We  suppose  all  those  calling  themselves  Christians, 
are  God's  children,  in  these  days  have  their  Bible,  or,  if 
not,  they  should  have.  For  it  is  our  ark,  and  we  ought 
to  know  what  it  holds  for  us,  or  what  our  Father  has 
promised  us  as  our  inheritance,  and  on  what  conditions. 
For  all  children  that  have  a  father  that  has  anything  to 
give  them,  whether  it  be  much  or  little,  like  to  know 
what  they  are  going  to  get.  And  if  it  is  on  conditions, 
they  will  want  to  know  all  about  it,  so  that  they  will 
know  just  what  they  are  expected  to  do.  Then,  if  they 
are  told  to  go  into  the  room  and  take  up  one  of  their 
father's  books  and  search  it  through  till  they  find  all 
the  promises  and  conditions  they  can  have  it  upon, 
what  would  they  do  if  they  wanted  to  know?  They 
would  have  to  search  till  they  found  all  they  wanted, 
and  they  would  want  to  do  all  the  searching  for  them- 
selves, for  fear  anyone  else  would  not  do  it  right,  and 
they  might  make  a  great  mistake  by  trusting  to  what 


The   Ark  161 

another  niiglit  tell  them  about  it.  For,  when  the  time 
came  that  they  expected  their  inheritance,  and  went 
to  their  father  to  get  it,  the  father  might  say:  "O,  my 
son,  you  can't  haye  it,  you  have  not  fulfilled  the  condi- 
tions." Then  they  might  say :  "I  did  all  I  knew,  and 
in  the  best  way  I  knew." 

But  your  father  would  say:  "No,  you  have  not.  I 
told  you  to  search  that  book  and  you  w'ould  find  out  all 
I  had  promised  to  do  for  3^ou,  and  on  what  conditions  I 
would  do  it."  But  your  mind  was  either  taken  up  with 
other  things,  or  you  were  indifferent  about  it  at  the 
time.  And  perhaps  thought  you  would  read  over  the 
book,  and  see  what  it  said  some  time  when  you  felt  like 
it.  But  in  place  of  doing  that  for  yourself,  you  go  first 
to  one  place  and  then  to  another  to  hear  what  this  one 
says  about  it,  and  what  another  has  to  say  about  it, 
until  you  do  not  know  what  to  believe,  then  you  end  by 
losing  your  inheritance  and  your  birthright.  Not  be- 
cause your  father  did  not  want  you  to  have  it,  but  be- 
cause you  did  not  do  as  your  father  told  you,  for  if  you 
had,  you  could  have  brought  out  your  ark  and  shown 
it  to  your  father,  his  promises  and  testament  in  his  own 
words. 

And  if  you  have  filled  his  conditions,  then  you  could 
hold  your  father  to  his  promise.  That  is  how  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  felt  in  having  the  ark;  knowing  what 
was  in  it,  they  knew^  if  they  obeyed  God  would  fulfill. 

But,  how  many  there  are  carrying  around  their  arks 
(Bibles)  and  do  not  know  or  understand  two  promises 
in  the  whole  book ! 

They  are  like  the  children  of  Israel  when  they  had 


162  The  Spirit  Father 

the  ark  beside  them,  and  the  covenant  promises  shut 
up  in  it.  They  thought  they  were  quite  safe  and  able 
to  overcome  their  enemies,  but  they  found  out  their 
mistake  when  their  enemies  overcame  them.  That  is 
what  tens  of  thousands  calling  themselves  Christians 
are  doing  now.  They  have  their  Bibles  and  they  be- 
lieve the  promises  are  all  right,  but  there  might  as  well 
be  no  promises  for  them,  for  all  the  good  they  get  from 
them. 

They  do  not  know  how  to  make  use  of  God's  prom- 
ises to  them,  for  we  are  to  fulfill  the  conditions,  and 
then  hold  the  promise  before  the  Father  and  ask  their 
fulfillment  to  us.  Just  as  you  would  do  with  a  human 
father  we  would  say,  "Father,  I  have  done  what  you 
told  me,  now  give  me  what  you  promised."  "Ask,  and 
ye  shall  receive."  How  many  calling  themselves  God's 
people  to-day  are  like  the  Israelites ! 

When  the  Israelites  had  the  ark  in  the  camp  beside 
them,  they  thought  they  were  all  right,  but  when  they 
went  out  and  lost  the  battle  with  their  enemies,  they 
saw  their  folly  and  what  they  had  done  when  it  was  too 
late.  Instead  of  trusting  to  having  the  ark  beside 
them,  they  should  have  turned  their  hearts  to  God 
and  prayed  him  to  help  them,  and  deliver  them  from 
their  enemies.  And  he  would  have  heard,  it  would 
have  been  God  fighting  the  battle  then,  not  them. 

That  is  why  so  many  Christians  lose  their  battles  for 
God.  They  have  their  Bibles  beside  them,  and  they 
think  they  are  all  right,  although  they  hardly  know 
what  a  chapter  of  that  Bible  means.  And  when  they 
go  out  to  battle  with  the  world  they  forget  to  ask  God 


The   Ark  163 

to  help  them,  so  they  either  fall  before  the  enemy,  or 
are  captured  and  held  prisoners  perhaps  for  years,  and 
some  for  life,  thousands  die  in  the  enemy's  prison. 

There  are  hundreds  of  infidels  who  know  more  of  the 
Scriptures — for  the  use  they  put  them  to — (fighting 
the  battle  of  the  devil)  than  do  thousands  of  professing 
Christians.  They  are  worse  off  than  the  Israelites,  for 
the  Israel  ties  knew,  when  they  had  the  ark,  what  was 
in  it,  but  the  majority  of  Christians  have  their  ark  but 
do  not  know  what  it  holds  for  them. 

The  lesson  represented  here  on  the  two  arks,  the  Bi- 
ble and  the  ark  of  the  children  of  Israel,  shows  the  dif- 
ference in  the  two  dispensations. 

The  children  of  Israel  were  in  the  bondage  of  spiritual 
darkness  for  their  disobedience  and  sin,  and  in  that  con- 
dition they  were  to  remain  until  it  came  God's  time  to 
release  them  and  give  them  light.  Those  that  tried  to 
look  into  the  ark  were  trying  to  get  light  that  it  was 
God's  will  to  withhold.  When  God  made  the  new  cov- 
enant with  man,  a  covenant  of  light  and  everlasting 
life,  all  that  will  not  look  into  the  ark  (Bible)  under  the 
new  covenant,  and  do  not  care,  or  try  to  know  what  it 
contains,  will  be  destroyed. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

SAUL. 

The  children  of  Israel  desire  a  king.  Samuel  was  old 
and  he  had  made  his  sons  judges  over  Israel.  But  they 
did  not  walk  in  the  ways  of  God,  and  the  elders  of  Israel 
went  to  Samuel  and  told  him  they  would  not  have  his 
sons  as  judges  over  them,  for  they  were  not  honest. 
They  were  taking  bribes  and  perverting  judgment.  So 
they  asked  to  have  a  king  put  over  them,  as  all  other 
nations  had. 

Up  to  that  time  no  king  had  ever  been  asked  for  by 
the  children  of  Israel.  God  had  been  God,  Father, 
King  and  Ruler  over  his  people,  with  his  servants  and 
prophets  under  him  to  carry  out  his  instructions. 

But  now  they  wanted  a  king  over  them,  as  other  na- 
tions had.  A  human  man  to  judge  and  rule  over  them. 
Their  asking  for  a  king  displeased  Samuel,  so  he  went 
to  God  about  it. 

And  the  Lord  said:  "Hearken  unto  all  they  have 
to  say  unto  thee,  Samuel,  and  do  not  feel  hurt  about 
it,  for  it  is  not  you  they  are  rejecting  to  rule  over  them, 
for  you  have  not  been  their  ruler.  It  is  'I'  they  are  re- 
jecting, for  it  is  'I'  have  been  reigning  over  them,  and 
since  they  are  rejecting  me  I  will  give  them  a  king.  Go 
and  tell  them  so.  Yet  protest  solemnly  with  them, 
show  them,  if  they  get  a  king,  what  kind  of  a  king  he 

164 


Saul  165 

will  be,  that  shall  reign  over  them."  Samuel  went 
and  talked  to  them,  but  it  was  not  any  use — they 
wanted  a  king.  Then  Samuel  said:  "Well,  I  will  tell 
you  what  kind  of  a  king  he  will  be,  and  what  he  will  do. 
He  will  take  your  sons  from  you,  and  use  them  for  his 
horsemen,  and  his  chariotmen,  and  he  will  set  them  to 
till  his  ground,  and  to  reap  his  harvest  and  to  make  in- 
struments for  his  chariots.  And  he  will  take  your 
daughters  to  be  his  confectionaries  and  cocks  and  bak- 
ers. He  will  take  your  fields  and  your  vineyards  and 
your  olive  yards,  all  the  best  of  them,  and  he  will  take 
the  tenth  of  all  you  have,  to  give  to  his  officers  and  serv- 
ants. And  he  will  take  the  best  of  all  your  young 
men,  and  put  them  to  his  own  work.  He  will  take  the 
tenth  of  your  sheep  and  you  shall  be  his  servants. 

"That  is  the  kind  of  king  you  shall  have.  And  you 
shall  cry  unto  the  Lord  because  of  the  oppression  of  the 
king  that  you  have  chosen ;  but  the  Lord  will  not  hear 
you  in  that  day.  So  you  had  better  be  without  a 
king!" 

But  they  refused  to  obey  Samuel  and  said:  "We 
will  have  a  king  over  us  that  we  may  be  like  all  other 
nations,  that  our  king  may  go  before  us,  and  fight  our 
battles."  So  the  Lord  told  Samuel  to  let  them  have 
a  king. 

God  told  Samuel  he  would  choose  the  man  that 
should  reign  over  his  people,  and  they  had  been  told 
what  kind  of  a  king  he  would  be. 

Saul  was  the  first  man  that  God's  people  had  made 
a  king,  to  reign  over  them.  They  had  been  in  bond- 
age to  other  kings,  but  had  never  acknowledged  the 


166  The  Spirit  Father 

right  of  any  king  over  them  but  God.  But  God  al- 
lowed them  to  have  a  king,  and  they  have  been  making 
men  kings,  and  putting  them  to  rule  over  themselves, 
from  that  generation  to  this. 

And  if  we  will  look  around  the  universe  to-day  we 
■wiW  find  that  the  majority  of  the  kings  are  men  after 
the  pattern  of  Saul;  for  they  are  still  taking  our  sons 
for  their  horsemen  and  chariotmen,  and  our  daughters 
for  cooks.  And  all  the  other  things  that  Saul  did,  the 
kings  of  all  nations  are  doing  in  this  age. 

There  are  many  different  kings  spoken  of  through 
the  Bible  history.  But  we  will  speak  in  this  chapter 
only  of  the  first  human  king  that  reigned  over  God's 
people,  and  the  last  one  that  ever  will  reign  over  them. 

God  himself  has  chosen  the  last  king  that  will  reign 
over  his  people,  and  it  will  be  an  everlasting  reign.  He 
told  them  also  what  kind  of  a  king  this  last  one  would 
be.  That  he  would  be  chosen  from  amongst  his  breth- 
ren, and  he  would  sit  upon  the  throne  of  his  kingdom, 
and  would  have  a  copy  of  the  laws  of  God  in  his  book, 
and  would  read  them  all  the  days  of  his  life.  And 
would  love  and  fear  the  Lord  his  God,  and  keep  all  his 
laws  and  statutes.  And  his  heart  would  not  be  lifted 
up  above  his  brethren,  nor  would  he  try  to  gain  for  him- 
self gold  or  silver,  nor  will  he  turn  to  the  riglit  or  the 
left,  but  will  go  straight  forward,  keeping  all  the  com- 
mands of  God;  and  his  kingdom  should  be  an  everlast- 
ing kingdom  in  the  midst  of  Israel. 

What  a  difference  between  the  two  men  chosen !  Why 
is  it  so  many  in  this  world  believe  in  a  God  or  a  Su- 
preme Being  that  rules  the  universe,  but  they  do  not 


Saul  167 

want  to  believe  in  Jesus  Christ.  They  cannot  see  what 
is  the  use  of  having  him,  they  are  willing  enough  to 
trust  God.  For  they  believe  and  trust  in  God's  love 
and  mercy,  but  they  do  not  need  Jesus.  They  say  he 
is  only  a  man,  and  they  do  not  need  him.  That  is  sim- 
ply because  they  have  no  conception  of  what  God  is, 
therefore  they  have  no  conception  of  what  they  are 
themselves,  or  why  it  was  necessary  that  Jesus  should 
be  sent  by  the  Father  to  us. 

The  children  of  Israel,  God's  chosen  people,  our  fore- 
fathers, asked  God  to  give  them  a  king;  they  were  de- 
termined to  have  a  human  king  over  them.  So  God 
allowed  them  to  have  what  they  wanted,  and  said  they 
would  never  again  be  without  a  man  to  reign  over 
them, 

God  never  broke  his  word,  and  never  will.  (Jesus 
was  the  man  chosen  to  be  made  the  everlasting  king  to 
reign  over  God's  people.  And  all  the  true  children  of 
God  thank  him  for  giving  us  such  a  king.  He  is  reign- 
ing king  to-day  over  the  hearts  of  millions  of  loyal 
subjects.) 

There  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Kish  lived  in  Ben- 
jamin, a  mighty  man  of  power.  He  had  a  son  whose 
name  was  Saul,  and  he  was  one  of  the  choice  young  men 
of  the  city.  So  God  told  Samuel  that  was  the  man  he 
had  chosen  to  be  made  their  king.  Samuel  wanted  to 
know  where  he  would  find  him.  And  God  said:  'T 
will  send  him  to  you."  Saul's  father  had  sent  him  out 
with  some  of  his  servants  to  look  for  some  asses  that 
had  gone  astray.  They  had  looked  for  them  for  days, 
but  had  not  found  them;  they  had  used  up  all  their 


168  The  Spirit  Father 

bread  and  water,  and  began  to  fear  Saul's  father  would 
be  getting  uneasy  about  them,  and  thought  they  had 
better  go  home. 

But  one  of  the  servants  said:  "Let  us  go  first  to  the 
seer;  he  may  be  able  to  tell  us  about  them." 

At  that  time  they  called  the  prophets  seers,  or  the 
men  of  God.  So  they  went  up  to  the  city,  found  some 
maidens  going  to  draw  water,  iiud  asked  the  maidens 
if  they  could  tell  them  where  to  find  the  seer.  They 
said:  "He  has  just  come  into  the  city  to-day.  There 
is  a  sacrifice  in  the  high  place,  if  you  make  haste,  and  go 
now  you  will  find  him  before  he  goes  up  to  eat,  the 
people  will  not  eat  till  he  comes,  for  he  blesses  the  food." 

But  the  Lord  had  told  vSamuel  the  day  before  that  on 
the  morrow  he  would  send  a  man  from  the  land  of  Ben- 
jamin, and  he  was  to  anoint  him  captain  of  his  people 
Israel. 

God  had  heard  their  cry  unto  him.  and  liis  pity  was 
for  them,  so  he  gave  them  a  captain  that  he  might  save 
them  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Philistines. 

When  Saul  met  Samuel  he  did  not  know  him,  so  he 
asked  if  he  could  tell  him  where  to  find  the  seer.  And 
Samuel  answered:  "I  am  the  seer,  go  up  before  me 
unto  the  high  place,  for  ye  shall  eat  with  me  to-day 
and  to-morrow  I  will  let  thee  go." 

Samuel  knew  Saul  was  the  man  God  had  told  him 
about.  So  he  asked  Saul  to  eat  and  stay  with  him  un- 
til the  next  day.  Samuel  lirought  Saul  and  his  serv- 
ants to  his  house,  and  there  were  about  thirty  guests 
there.  Saul  and  his  servants  were  seated  in  the  chief 
places  among  them.     "You  came   to  inquire  of  me 


Saul  169 

about  the  asses  you  are  in  search  of,  but  do  not  trouble 
your  heart  about  them;  they  are  safe.  Let  me  tell 
thee  that  the  desire  of  all  Israel  is  turned  towards 
thee."  Saul  said:  "How  can  that  be,  for  I  am  a  Ben- 
jamite  of  the  smallest  of  all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  and 
my  father,  the  least  of  the  families  of  the  tribes." 

"Well,  that  may  be,  but  the  people  are  going  to  make 
of  thee  a  great  man." 

Saul  remained  over  the  night  with  Samuel.  In  the 
morning  Samuel  called  him  and  told  Saul  to  send  his 
servants  on  before  them.  "But  stand  thee  still  awhile 
with  me,  that  I  may  reveal  unto  thee  the  word  of 
God."  Samuel  took  a  vial  of  oil  and  poured  it  on  the 
head  of  Saul,  kissed  him,  and  said:  "The  Lord  hath 
anointed  thee  captain  over  his  inheritance." 

Dear  brother  or  sister,  whoever  you  may  be,  you 
may  be  one  of  the  many  that  are  (as  I  was)  reading 
your  Bible  with  but  little  understanding.  The  major- 
ity of  Christian  people  think  that  God  made  Saul  king 
over  his  people. 

Now,  the  Lord  told  Samuel  to  anoint  Saul  captain, 
but  a  captain  is  not  a  king.  God  permitted  his  peo- 
ple to  make  Saul  their  king.  For  our  spirit  father 
would  never  make  any  man  king,  that  would  be  hand- 
ing over  to  a  human  man  what  belongs  to  God  himself. 
For  he  has  said:  "My  glory  will  I  never  give  to  an- 
other." God  himself  had  chosen  the  man  that  he  per- 
mitted them  to  make  their  king,  but  permitting  and 
appointing  them  are  two  different  things. 

God  did  not  even  make  Christ  our  king.  Jesus'  hu- 
man birth  and  God's  foreordained  purpose  in  providing 


170  The  Spirit  Father 

the  last  man  for  his  children,  that  he  would  ever  per- 
mit them  to  have  over  them  as  their  king! 

God  had  borne  with  his  rebel  children  from  genera- 
tion to  generation,  till  the  time  was  fulfilled  that  they 
were  to  have  their  own  way.  Now,  when  God  brought 
Jesus  before  the  world,  God  did  not  say:  "This  is  your 
king,  I  am  pleased  with  him."  God  said;  "This  is 
my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased;  hear  ye 
him."  Jesus  had  lived  his  human  life  for  thirty  years 
in  a  way  that  was  pleasing  to  God,  his  Father.  When 
he  brought  him  before  the  world  to  begin  his  ministry 
God  proclaimed  him  his  beloved  Son,  and  anointed  him 
before  the  world  for  the  work  that  his  Father  was  giv- 
ing him  to  do.  But  God  left  it  to  his  people  to  make 
him  their  king. 

Even  Jesus  did  not  ask  to  be  made  king,  for  when  he 
thought  the  people  would  take  him  by  force  and  make 
him  king  he  got  away  from  them. 

Pilate  was  the  first  to  proclaim  Jesus  king.  He  said 
to  the  Jews:  "Behold  your  king!"  When  Pilate  asked 
Jesus  if  he  was  a  king,  Jesus'  answer  to  Pilate  was: 
"Thou  sayest  I  am  a  king;  to  this  end  was  I  born." 

He  was  the  Christ,  the  promised  Messiah  and  King. 
But  they  were  looking  for  a  king  such  as  Saul,  that 
would  lead  their  armies  out  to  battle. 

Samuel  brought  Saul  before  the  people  and  said 
"See  ye  him  whom  the  Lord  hath  chosen?"  And  all 
the  people  shouted:     "God  save  the  king!" 

So  Saul  began  to  reign  over  Israel  from  that  day. 
But  some  of  the  children  of  Belial  did  not  want  him 
over  them,  and  said:     "How  shall  this  man  save  us?" 


Saul  171 

They    despised   him,   and  brought  him    no  presents. 

The  day  came  when  Saul  called  them  all  to  array 
themselves  for  battle.  He  then  divided  them  into 
three  companies  and  led  them  into  the  midst  of  the 
host  in  the  morning,  and  they  fought  till  the  middle 
of  the  day,  and  slew  the  Ammonites  right  and  left, 
until  the  few  that  were  left  were  scattered  so  that  two 
of  them  were  not  together. 

When  the  Israelites  saw  what  a  victory  they  had 
won  under  the  leadership  of  their  new  king,  they  cried : 
"Where  are  the  men  that  said  we  will  not  have  this  man 
to  reign  over  us,  bring  them  out  till  we  put  them  to 
death." 

But  Saul  said:  "There  shall  not  a  man  be  put  to 
death  this  day,  for  the  Lord  hath  wrought  salvation 
in  Israel."  So  we  see  by  Saul's  words  he  would  not 
let  the  people  give  him  the  glory.  He  knew  it  was 
God  had  given  them  the  victory. 

If  Saul  had  only  kept  like  that  through  all  his  reign, 
what  a  different  ending  it  would  have  had ! 

When  he  had  reigned  two  years,  he  selected  a  band 
of  three  thousand  choice  men  for  himself,  and  was  go- 
ing up  against  the  Philistines. 

But  the  Philistines  heard  of  it,  and  gathered  them- 
selves together  in  multitudes,  pitched  their  tents  to 
the  eastward;  and  when  the  Israelites  saw  where  the 
Philistines  were,  and  their  great  numbers,  great  fear 
came  on  them,  and  they  hid  themselves  in  caves  and 
thickets,  and  some  of  them  went  down  into  pits. 

Saul  was  still  in  Gilgal,  and  when  he  saw  the  fear  of 
the  people,  and  that  they  were  leaving  him,  he  took  a 


172  The  Spirit  Father 

peace  offering  and  offered  it.  But  he  had  no  sooner  of- 
fered it  than  Samuel  came  to  him  and  asked  why  he 
had  been  so  foohsh. 

"Thou  hast  not  kept  the  commandment  of  the  Lord 
thy  God,  which  he  commanded  thee.  If  thou  hadst 
obeyed  and  kept  thy  Father's  commands,  the  Lord 
would  have  established  thy  kingdom  over  Israel  for- 
ever; but  now  thy  kingdom  shall  be  taken  from  thee, 
and  God  ^;\ill  choose  another  captain  over  his  children. 
And  he  v.ill  be  a  man  after  his  own  heart." 

Yet  Saul  was  sent  out  to  another  battle  to  see  if  he 
would  obey  God's  commands.  Saul  was  sent  to  ut- 
terly destroy  the  Ammonites,  and  fight  against  them 
until  they  were  consumed. 

Saul  destroyed  the  people,  but  he  saved  Agag,  their 
king,  and  he  took  the  chief  of  all  their  sheep  and  oxen, 
and  the  best  of  all  they  had,  when  God  had  commanded 
him  to  destroy  everything  that  belonged  to  them. 

When  Samuel  came  again,  to  ask  why  Saul  had  not 
obeyed  God's  commands,  Saul  said  he  had  brought 
their  oxen  and  sheep  to  offer  in  sacrifice.  But  Samuel 
asked  if  God  delighted  more  in  his  people  offering  burnt 
offerings  than  in  their  obeying  his  commands.  Obe- 
dience is  what  God  wants  and  will  have  from  his  people, 
*'and  as  thou  hast  rejected  God's  words,  God  hast  re- 
jected thee  from  being  king  over  Israel."  Saul  cried, 
"I  have  sinned,  and  transgressed  the  commands  of  God, 
because  I  feared  the  people  and  obeyed  their  voices." 

Oh,  God,  how  many  of  those  calling  themselves  thy 
servants  are  like  Saul!  They  are  disobeying  thy  com- 
mands, because  they  fear  the  people,  and  fear  they 


Saul  173 

might  lose  their  place.  When  Saul  asked  Samuel  to  go 
with  him  before  the  Lord,  that  he  might  ask  pardon, 
Samuel  would  not  go,  for  he  knew  God  would  not  let 
Saul  reign  longer  over  his  people.  And  as  Samuel 
turned  to  leave  Saul,  he  took  hold  of  his  mantle  and  it 
rent  in  his  hand,  then  Samuel  told  him  that  the  king- 
dom of  Israel  was  taken  from  him  that  day  and  given 
to  another. 

That  ended  the  reign  of  Saul  as  the  first  king  over 
Israel,  but  when  he  turned  back  to  go  from  Samuel  God 
gave  him  another  heart,  and  the  spirit  of  the  Lord 
came  upon  him,  and  he  was  a  new  man,  and  had  a 
new  name. 

How  few  that  are  Bible  readers  think  of  the  glorious 
Paul  being  the  first  king  that  reigned  over  Israel.  Do 
we  wonder,  when  he  was  brought  to  see  himself  and 
what  his  wickedness  and  disobedience  had  made  him 
lose,  that  he  was  one  of  the  bravest  and  boldest  of  all 
the  apostles,  and  was  willing  to  suffer  death  a  thousand 
times  rather  than  disobey  or  dishonor  his  Lord  again? 
His  eyes  were  opened.  Oh,  Lord,  that  our  eyes  were 
opened! 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


DAVID. 


The  Lord  said  to  Samuel:  "How  long  wilt  thou 
mourn  for  Saul?  I  have  told  thee  I  have  rejected  him 
from  reigning  over  Israel.  But  fill  thine  horn  again 
with  oil,  and  I  will  send  thee  to  Jesse  the  Bethlehemite, 
for  I  have  provided  a  king  from  among  his  sons." 

So  Samuel  went  to  Bethel,  and  called  Jesse  and  his 
sons,  and  sanctified  them,  and  called  them  all  to  the 
sacrifice. 

And  when  Samuel  saw  Eliab,  he  thought,  surely  this 
is  the  one  the  Lord  wants  me  to  anoint.  He  must  have 
been  fine-looking  and  tall,  and  a  man  of  a  fine  counte- 
nance; for  the  I;ord  spoke  to  Samuel  and  said:  "Look 
not  on  his  fine  countenance,  or  on  the  height  of  his  stat- 
ure, because  I  have  refused  him." 

The  Lord  does  not  look  as  a  man  looketh  — on  the  out- 
ward appearance  of  a  man.  God  looketh  to  the  heart 
of  the  man  he  is  going  to  choose. 

So  Jesse  brought  all  his  sons  one  by  one  and  made 
them  pass  before  Samuel.  But,  as  they  passed  by, 
Samuel  knew  that  God  had  not  chosen  one  of  them. 
When  seven  of  Jesse's  sons  had  passed,  Samuel  said: 
"Arc  here  all  thy  children?"  And  he  said:  "All  but 
the  youngest  and  he  is  away  keeping  the  sheep."  Sam- 
uel said:    "Send  and  bring  him,  for  we  will  not  sit  down 

174 


David  175 

without  him."  His  father  sent  and  brought  him  in. 
When  Samuel  looked  on  him  he  saw  a  young  lad,  ruddy, 
and  with  a  beautiful  countenance  and  goodly  to  look  on. 

And  the  Lord  said  to  Samuel:  "Arise,  and  anoint 
him,  for  this  is  he."  Then  Samuel  took  the  horn  of  oil 
and  anointed  him  in  the  midst  of  his  brethren;  and  the 
spirit  of  the  Lord  came  on  David  from  that  day  for- 
ward. 

Now,  God  had  chosen  his  man,  and  had  him  anointed 
and  ready  to  be  made  king  when  the  right  time  came 
for  the  people  to  do  so. 

David  had  to  do  some  great  work,  and  some  valiant 
deeds  to  bring  him  before  the  people,  before  they 
would  choose  him  for  their  king.  But  God  had  pre- 
pared the  way  far  all  that.  There  was  another  great 
battle  between  the  Philistines  and  the  Israelites,  and 
each  army  was  camped  on  a  mountain  side  with  a  val- 
ley between  them. 

The  Philistines  had  a  champion  with  them  named 
Goliath,  a  man  of  great  height  and  weight,  and  covered 
with  a  coat  of  mail,  helmet,  and  everything  that  could 
protect  him  from  the  enemy.  The  staff  of  his  spear  was 
like  a  weaver's  beam,  and  the  head  of  it  weighed  six 
hundred  shekels  of  iron.  And  one  bearing  a  shield 
went  before  him,  so  he  felt  he  was  perfectly  safe.  He 
came  out  in  all  his  glory,  as  he  thought,  to  frighten  the 
Israelites. 

He  stood  before  the  army  and  cried:  "Why  are  you 
come  out  to  try  and  fight  against  us?  Am  I  not  a  Phil- 
istine? And  you  are  only  the  servants  of  Saul."  Ah, 
that  is  where  the  trouble  was;  they  had  become  the 


176  The  Spirit  Father 

servants  of  Saul,  instead  of  the  obedient  children  of 
God  their  Father,  still  God  was  willing  to  help  them. 

Goliath  came  before  them  forty  days,  mornings  and 
evenings,  defying  them,  and  telling  them  to  choose  a 
man  from  among  Israel  and  send  him  out  to  him.  "And 
if  he  is  able  to  fight  with  me  and  kill  me,  then  we  will  be 
your  servants.  But  if  I  kill  him  then  you  shall  be  our 
servants  and  serve  us."  The  Philistine  said:  "I  defy 
the  armies  of  Israel  this  day,  give  me  a  man,  that  we 
may  fight!" 

Oh!  little  did  he  know  what  he  was  asking  for  or  do- 
ing, in  defying  the  God  of  Israel,  for  God  had  his  in- 
strument ready.  David  was  sent  by  his  father  to  carry 
provisions  to  the  camp,  for  his  brothers,  three  of  them, 
were  in  the  army. 

While  David  was  speaking  with  his  brothers,  up 
came  the  champion  defying  the  Israelites  to  fight  him. 
All  the  men  fled  before  him.  But  David  asked  what 
would  be  done  to  the  man  that  would  kill  the  uncircum- 
cised  Philistine  and  take  away  the  reproach  of  Israel. 
"For  what  is  he,  that  he  should  defy  the  armies  of  the 
living  God?  Tell  me  what  shall  be  done  to  the  man 
that  kills  him!" 

They  told  David  the  man  that  killed  him  would  re- 
ceive great  riches  from  the  king.  David  said:  "Let 
not  your  hearts  fail  you,  for  I  will  go  and  fight  the 
champion."  So  they  went  and  told  the  king.  But 
when  the  king  saw  David  he  said:  "Thou  art  but  a 
youth,  and  cannot  be  able  to  fight  against  him,  for  he 
is  a  great  man  of  war."  But  David  said:  "I  have 
killed  both  a  lion  and  a  bear  that  came  to  take  the 


David  177 

lambs  out  of  my  flock,  and  as  God  did  deliver  me 
out  of  the  paw  of  the  bear  he  will  deliver  me  out  of  the 
hand  of  this  Philistine."  The  king  said:  "Go,  then, 
and  God  be  with  thee." 

Saul  dressed  David  in  a  coat  of  mail  and  put  his  hel- 
met on  him,  and  girded  him  on  his  sword  and  armor  and 
told  him  to  go.  But  David  said:  "I  cannot  go  with 
these  things,  for  I  have  not  proved  them."  So  David 
took  them  off  and  chose  his  own  weapons,  and  they 
were  of  the  most  simple  kind. 

He  took  his  shepherd's  staff  in  his  hand,  and  gathered 
five  smooth  stones  from  the  brook  and  put  them  in  his 
bag,  and  with  his  sling  in  his  hand  went  off  to  fight  the 
Philistine.  When  the  Philistine  came  up  to  him,  he 
looked  on  David  with  disdain,  for  he  was  but  a  youth, 
and  he  said:  "Come  to  me,  and  I  wall  give  thy  flesh  to 
the  fowls  of  the  air,  and  to  the  beasts  of  the  field." 
But  David  said:  "Thou  comest  to  me  with  a  spear  and 
a  shield,  but  I  come  to  thee  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  of 
hosts,'the  God  of  the  armies  of  Israel,  whom  thou  hast  de- 
fied this  day.  The  Lord  will  deliver  thee  into  my  hands, 
and  I  will  smite  thee  and  take  thine  head  from  thee, 
and  I  will  give  the  carcass  of  the  Philistine  unto  the 
fowls  of  the  air  and  to  the  wild  beasts  of  the  earth,  that 
all  may  know  there  is  a  God  in  Israel ;  and  all  this  as- 
sembly shall  know  that  the  Lord  saveth  not  with  sword 
or  spear.  For  this  battle  is  the  Lord's,  and  he  will  give 
it  into  our  hands."  And  as  David  and  the  Philistine 
met  for  battle,  David  took  a  stone  from  his  bag  and 
slung  it  and  slew  Goliath.  He  fell  to  the  ground,  and 
David  ran  and  stood  on  him,  and  took  Goliath's  sword 


178  The  Spirit  Father 

and  cut  off  his  head.  When  the  Philistines  saw  their 
champion  dead,  they  all  fled.  And  David  carried  the 
head  of  Goliath  into  Jerusalem.  (This  lesson  is  a  symbol 
of  Christ  and  Satan.)  This  was  the  first  use  God  had 
made  of  his  chosen  instrument.  A  mere  youth  to  put 
a  whole  host  of  an  army  to  flight,  and  to  kill  the  great 
Goliath  that  had  put  fear  into  the  whole  army  of  Israel! 

When  God  has  chosen  us  for  his  work,  it  does  not 
matter  how  small,  or  weak,  or  little  we  may  be  in  our- 
selves. God  can  do  the  work  with  us.  David  was  not 
chosen  king  for  many  years,  after  that  he  went  through 
many  strange  adventures  that  we  cannot  write  here, 
but  you  can  read  them  all  in  the  Bible.  David  went  by 
God's  command  to  dwell  in  the  City  of  Hebron;  and  the 
men  of  Judah  came  there  and  made  David  their  king. 

We  see  that  David  was  only  made  king  over  one 
tribe  at  first. 

He  was  seven  years  and  si??  months  king  over  Judah 
before  he  was  made  king  over  all  Israel;  for  the  house 
of  Saul  would  not  have  him  for  their  king. 

There  was  a  long  war  between  the  house  of  Saul  and 
the  house  of  David.  But  David's  house  gained  in 
strength,  for  God  was  with  them.  Saul's  house  grew 
weaker  and  weaker  until  all  the  elders  of  Israel  came 
to  Hebron  to  David,  and  he  made  a  league  with  them 
before  the  Lord,  and  they  anointed  him  king  over  all 
Israel. 

David  was  then  about  thirty  years  old — about 
the  age  of  Jesus  when  he  was  brought  before  the  world. 
God  has  let  his  sons  be  at  a  matured  age,  before  he  in- 
trusts to  them  any  great  work. 


David  179 

David  reigned  over  Israel  thirty-three  years. 

David  began  his  reign  over  Israel  by  taking  the 
stronghold  of  Zion,  and  going  to  dwell  in  the  fort,  and 
called  it  the  City  of  David.  He  made  a  proclamation 
that  whoever  would  go  up  and  smite  the  Jebusites,  he 
would  make  chief  and  captain;  for  he  hated  them  with 
his  very  soul. 

And  David  began  to  build  round  about,  and  went 
on  growing  great,  for  God  was  with  him, 

David  fought  two  great  battles  and  defeated  the 
Philistines,  but  David  gave  the  glory  to  God,  and 
burned  up  all  their  images. 

Then  Hiram,  king  of  Tyre  sent  messengers  to  David, 
with  cedar  trees,  carpenters  and  masons  to  build  David 
a  house. 

For  all  the  blessings  God  had  given  David  he  did 
not  live  up  to  the  commands  of  God,  for  David  com- 
mitted adultery  with  Bathsheba,  the  wife  of  Uriah. 
She  was  very  beautiful  and  he  wished  her  for  his  wife. 
So  he  ordered  Joab  to  put  Uriah  in  the  front  of  the 
battle,  that  he  might  be  killed  in  that  way.  When 
he  heard  that  Uriah  was  dead,  he  had  Bathsheba 
brought  to  his  house  and  made  her  his  wife.  But  what 
he  had  done  greatly  displeased  God,  and  God  sent 
Nathan  to  reprove  him  by  giving  to  him  a  parable. 
He  said,  "There  were  two  men  in  a  city,  the  one  rich 
the  other  poor.  The  rich  man  had  many  flocks  and 
herds,  more  than  he  could  number;  but  the  poor  man 
had  but  one  little  ewe  lamb  that  lay  in  his  bosom. 
And  when  the  rich  man  saw  the  lamb  he  coveted  it,  and 
sent  and  took  it  to  himself. 


180  The  Spirit  Father 

And  when  David  heard  what  Nathan  told  him  his 
anger  was  kindled  against  the  man;  and  he  said,  "As 
the  Lord  liveth  that  man  shall  die,  and  he  shall  restore 
the  lamb  fourfold,  because  he  had  no  pity." 

Then  Nathan  said,  "Thou  art  the  man." 

David  was  condemned,  and  confessed  his  sin  before 
God,  and  was  forgiven. 

If  we  are  willing  to  confess  and  repent  God  is  always 
ready  and  willing  to  forgive  through  all  generations. 

It  became  one  of  David's  desires  to  build  a  house  for 
God,  but  the  Lord  sent  Nathan  to  tell  him  that  he 
must  not  do  so,  for  he  dwelt  in  no  house  built  with 
hands.  God  said,  "I  took  thee  from  the  sheepcot  from 
following  the  sheep  to  be  ruler  over  my  people  Israel; 
and  have  made  thy  name  great,  but  ye  cannot  build 
me  a  house. 

But  David's  desire  and  wish  to  do  so  pleased  God; 
and  God  made  him  a  promise  that  he  would  appoint  a 
place  for  his  own  people  and  that  they  would  dwell  in  a 
place  of  their  own  and  move  no  more. 

And  the  children  of  wickedness  would  not  be  allowed 
to  afflict  them  as  they  had  done  in  former  times. 
"And  I  will  set  up  thy  seed  after  thee,  and  establish 
his  kingdom.  He  shall  build  an  house  for  my  name 
and  I  will  establish  the  throne  of  his  kingdom  forever. 
I  will  be  his  father,  and  he  shall  be  my  son ;  but  if  he 
commit  iniquity  I  will  chasten  him  with  the  rod  of 
men,  and  with  the  stripes  of  the  children  of  men.  I  will 
not  take  my  mercy  from  him  but  will  establish  thine 
house  and  kingdom  and  throne  through  him  forever. 

God's  promises  to  David  have  been,  and  will  be, 


David  181 

fulfilled.  Let  us  look  over  this  promise.  God  says 
he  will  appoint  a  place  for  his  own  people,  where  they 
will  dwell  in  safety,  and  none  of  the  children  of  wicked- 
ness will  be  allowed  to  hurt  them  or  do  them  evil  any 
more.  That  time  is  near  at  hand ;  for  God  is  preparing 
the  way  now  for  that  promise  to  be  fulfilled,  by  clear- 
ing away  the  rubbish  and  filth  that  has  been  built  on 
the  foundation  of  the  church  of  the  first  born,  the 
church  of  the  living  God. 

He  is  clearing  away  the  rubbish  and  will  build  again 
with  the  pure,  clean,  and  polished  stones;  that  is  with 
his  regenerated  and  redeemed  children.  They  will 
have  no  more  going  here  and  there  looking  for  a  church 
or  home  where  they  can  find  God,  for  he  will  dwell  in 
the  midst  of  them,  and  lead  them  by  the  power  of  the 
Spirit. 

And  again  where  he  says:  "I  will  set  up  thy  seed, 
and  I  w^ll  be  his  father  and  he  shall  be  my  son,  but  if 
he  does  not  obey,  I  will  chasten  him  with  the  rod  of 
men,  and  wdth  the  stripes  of  the  children  of  men,"  we 
see  that  chastening  was  to  be  allowed  by  the  hands  of 
men  and  in  men's  ways,  not  by  the  hand  or  way  of  God. 
For  our  Father's  way  is  love  and  mercy,  if  we  will  only 
love  and  obey  him. 

David  was  a  great  king  and  had  fought  and  won 
many  mighty  battles,  but  he  did  some  things  that 
greatly  displeased  God. 

David  always  repented  and  confessed  his  sin  to  God 
and  was  forgiven. 

David  was  a  man  that  shed  much  blood,  and  God 
would  not  allow  him  to  build  the  temple  for  his  hands 


182  The  Spirit  Father 

were  bloody.  But  God  promised  that  Solomon,  his 
son,  would  be  a  man  of  rest,  that  he  would  be  king 
over  Israel,  and  the  land  and  the  people  would  have 
rest  from  war  during  his  reign.  David  had  sinned  and 
brought  God's  anger  on  himself  many  times  while  he 
reigned  over  Israel,  but  had  always  confessed  and 
sought  forgiveness.  But  again,  in  the  end  of  his  reign, 
Satan  tempted  him  to  number  the  people  of  Israel,  and 
he  greatly  displeased  God  by  doing  .«o. 

I  wonder  why  Satan  wanted  David  to  count  the 
people?  I  believe  the  devil  wanted  to  know  just  how- 
many  people  belonged  to  God,  and  he  took  that  way 
to  find  out.  For  when  he  knew  how  many  were  on 
the  Lord's  side,  he  would  know  all  the  rest  belonged 
to  him ;  just  as  they  are  now — all  that  are  not  on  the 
Lord's  side  are  on  the  devil's  side. 

God  sent  word  to  David  that  he  would  punish  him. 
He  allowed  David  to  choose  his  punishment  from  three 
things:  He  was  offered  three  years'  famine;  or 
three  months  to  flee  before  his  enemies  and  be  over- 
taken by  their  sword;  or  three  days'  pestilence.  When 
David  heard  what  the  Lord  had  said,  he  cried:  "Let 
me  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Lord  for  his  mercies  are 
very  great,  but  let  me  not  fall  into  the  hands  of  man." 

And  David  lifted  up  liis  eyes,  and  saw  an  angel  of 
the  Lord's  standing  between  the  earth  and  heaven  with 
a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand  stretched  over  Jerusalem. 

And  David  cried  unto  God  to  stay  the  plague  and 
not  destroy  any  more  of  the  people.  "For  it  is  I,  O, 
Lord,  that  has  committed  the  sin  and  done  the  evil. 
But  those  sheep  what  have  thoy  done?     Only  what 


David  183 

I  told  them.  Let  the  punishment  be  on  me,  0,  Lord, 
but  not  on  my  people." 

And  the  Lord  heard  his  cry  of  repentance  and  stayed 
the  hand  of  the  angel  and  Jerusalem  was  saved. 

David  had  fought  his  last  battle  as  king  and  ap- 
points Solomon  as  his  successor. 

What  lesson  do  we  find  in  this  small  part  of  David's 
history.  We  are  told  David  was  a  man  according  to 
God's  own  heart,  still  David  committed  sin  and  angered 
God,  but  God  knew  that  the  desire  of  David's  heart  and 
spirit  was  to  do  right  and  he  wanted  to  be  just  and 
upright  to  every  one. 

And  when  he  was  brought  to  see  wherein  he  had 
sinned,  he  was  always  sorry  and  ready  to  cry  to  God  for 
forgiveness  and  wanted  no  one  else  to  be  blamed  or 
punished  for  his  sin!  He  wished  the  punishment  to  be 
laid  on  himself.  So  God  knew  it  was  not  his  spirit 
child  nor  the  heart  of  David  that  wished  to  do  wrong 
but  the  flesh,  the  human  child  that  was  so  easily  led  to 
sin. 

We  have  only  to  read  over  some  of  the  beautiful 
"Psalms  of  David,"  to  see  both  sides  of  the  man's  life, 
the  outpouring  of  the  spirit  man  in  one  psalm  and  the 
outpouring  of  the  human  man  in  another.  In  the 
sixty-third  psalm,  where  David's  soul  is  thirsting  for 
God,  he  cries,  "Thou  art  my  God;  early  will  I  seek 
thee ;  my  soul  thirseth  for  thee,  my  flesh  longeth  for  thee 
in  a  dry  and  thirsty  land  where  no  water  is ;  to  see  thy 
power  and  thy  glory  as  I  have  seen  thee  in  the  sanc- 
tuary. Because  thy  loving  kindness  is  better  than  life, 
my  lips  shall  praise  thee.     Thus  will  I  bless  thee  \vhile 


184  The  Spirit  Father 

I  live;  I  will  lift  up  my  hands  in  thy  name.  My  soul 
shall  be  satisfied  as  with  marrow  and  fatness;  and  my 
mouth  shall  praise  thee  with  joyful  lips;  when  I  re- 
member thee  upon  my  bed,  and  meditate  on  thee  in  the 
night  watches.  Because  thou  hast  been  my  help, 
therefore  in  the  shadow  of  thy  wings  will  I  rejoice." 

That  was  the  cry  from  David's  spirit.  But  when  we 
read  again,  in  some  of  his  other  psalms,  his  cry  to  God 
to  punish  and  destroy  his  enemies,  there  we  see  the 
human  man.  God  our  spirit  father  knoweth  all  sides 
of  our  nature,  and  pities  our  failings  with  a  love  past 
our  understanding. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


SOLOMON. 


After  David  chose  Solomon  his  successor  he  ap- 
pointed Zadok  the  priest  and  Nathan  the  prophet  to 
anoint  Solomon  before  the  people.  And  when  it  was 
done  they  blew  a  trumpet,  and  all  the  people  cried, 
"God  save  King  Solomon."  They  had  declared  him 
their  king. 

We  will  just  take  up  a  few  of  his  acts,  as  he  is  the 
fitst  king  of  the  royal  seed  of  David  and  the  only  one 
we  will  talk  about  until  we  come  to  the  last  and  ever- 
lasting King,  Christ. 

When  God  told  Solomon  to  ask  for  what  he  wanted 
Solomon  said,  "O,  Lord,  thou  hast  made  thy  servant 
king,  and  I  am  but  a  little  child,  I  know  not  what  I 
should  do,  for  I  am  now  in  the  midst  of  thy  people,  and 
they  are  a  very  great  multitude.  Give  me  therefore 
an  understanding  heart  that  I  may  be  able  to  judge 
thy  people  rightly ;  and  discern  between  good  and  bad  ; 
or  how  can  I  judge  so  great  a  nation." 

Solomon's  request  pleased  God  and  he  said,  "  Be- 
cause thou  hast  asked  for  wisdom  and  understanding  to 
make  thee  able  to  judge  my  people  righteously,  thou 
shalt  be  the  wisest  king  that  has  ever  reigned,  and  I 
will  also  give  thee  all  thou  hast  not  asked  for,  riches 
and  honor  will  I  give  thee,  that  there  shall  not  be  any 

185 


186  The  Spirit  Father 

amongst  all  the  kings  like  unto  thee.  And  if  thou 
wilt  walk  in  my  ways  and  keep  my  statutes  and  my 
commandments,  I  will  lengthen  thy  days." 

Such  a  glorious  promise,  if  he  would  be  an  obedient 
son!  Let  us  first  seek  the  kingdom  of  heaven;  that  is 
>viKdom  and  understanding  to  know  how  to  love  and 
obey  our  spirit  father  with  a  true,  pure  and  perfect 
heart.  That  is  the  first  gift  of  God  to  his  children 
that  seek  it  in  sincerity  as  Solomon  did,  but  all  God's 
promises  to  him  were  temporal  things.  No  spiritual 
promises  or  blessings  were  given  to  any  one  under  the 
old  covenant  or  natural  law. 

They  had  all  to  receive  the  spiritual  blessings  and 
promises  under  the  new  covenant  and  spiritual  law. 
Every  spirit  that  was  clothed  in  a  human  garment 
under  the  natural  law,  would  be  reclothed  again  under 
the  new  covenant  and  spiritual  law. 

Let  us  look  at  Solomon's  first  act  in  judging  his 
people.  Two  women  came  before  the  king  to  have 
a  dispute  settled.  They  lived  in  the  same  house,  and 
each  had  a  little  son  of  the  same  age,  and  one  of  the 
women  laid  over  on  her  son  and  it  died,  and  while 
the  other  woman  slept  she  took  the  living  child 
from  her  bosom  and  put  the  dead  child  in  its  place. 
So  when  she  arose  in  the  morning  to  nurse  her  child 
she  found  it  dead;  but  when  she  looked  upon  it,  she 
knew  it  was  not  her  child,  but  the  other  woman  said, 
"It  is  surely  thy  child,  for  the  living  one  is  mine." 

So  they  went  to  the  king  to  haA'C  the  matter  judged. 
And  when  they  told  Solomon  what  the  trouble  was 
about,  the  king  said,  "Bring  mc  a  sword,"  and  they 


Solomon  187 

brought  him  one,  and  he  said,  "Divide  the  living  child 
in  two,  and  give  one  half  to  the  one,  and  one  half  to  the 
other."  The  woman  who  owned  the  child  cried,  "O, 
no,  my  king,  do  not  harm  my  child,  rather  give  her  the 
child,  but  do  not  slay  it."  But  the  other  said,  "Let 
it  be  neither  hers  nor  mine,  but  divide  it." 

But  the  king  said,  give  the  child  to  the  woman  that 
pleads  for  its  life,  for  she  is  its  mother.  And  the  people 
saw  in  the  king's  judgment  the  wisdom  of  God. 

What  lesson  do  we  see  in  this  first  act  of  Solomon? 
First,  we  see  in  the  woman  that  took  the  living  child 
from  the  bosom  of  its  mother,  the  work  of  the  devil. 

She  first  stole  the  child,  then  lied  about  it;  then  she 
was  willing  that  the  child  should  be  divided.  That  is 
just  what  the  devil  is  doing  all  the  time,  stealing  the 
living  children  of  God,  and  putting  dead  ones  in  their 
place.  And  he  is  quite  willing  that  they  be  divided, 
for  as  long  as  he  can  keep  them  divided  he  is  on  the 
safe  side.  For  he  knows  God  will  have  no  divided 
child,  he  will  have  the  whole  spirit,  soul  and  body,  or 
none. 

In  the  woman  that  cried,  "Do  not  divide  the  child, 
nor  slay  it,  but  let  her  have  it."  We  have  an  emblem 
of  our  spirit  father. 

He  will  not  have  a  divided  child  nor  will  he  have  it 
slain,  but  he  will  give  it  to  Satan  just  as  it  is,  if  it  be- 
longs to  him. 

Where  do  we  find  Christ  comparing  his  love  to  the 
love  of  the  mother? 

Christ  could  not  bear  to  see  the  children  divided, 
and  away  from  their  father's  home.      He  says  to  his 


188  The  Spirit  Father 

brethren,  "How  often  would  I  have  gathered  you  as  a 
hen  gathers  her  chickens  under  her  wings,  but  ye 
would  not." 

What  other  lesson  do  we  get  from  Solomon's  first 
act  of  judgment?  Just  what  is  going  on  at  the  present 
day:  that  while  we  sleep,  our  enemy,  the  devil,  comes 
along  and  takes  out  of  our  bosom  the  living  child  of 
God's  and  places  a  dead  one  in  its  stead;  by  deadening 
our  hearts  to  the  light  and  purity,  obedience  and  love, 
that  belongs  to  the  living  child  of  God,  and  filling  our 
hearts  with  the  dead  pleasures  and  filth  of  the  world, 
til  at  belong  to  Satan. 

And  the  sword  that  was  brought  before  Solomon  is 
an  emblem  of  the  sword  that  must  be  brought  before 
us— the  sword  of  the  spirit,  the  word  of  God  as 
taught  in  the  Gospels,  that  will  decide  all  disputes 
between  the  dead  and  the  living  at  the  judgment  day, 
between  the  children  of  God  the  redeemed  in  Christ, 
and  the  unredeemed  children,  the  inheritance  of  Satan 
and  his  kingdom. 

Solomon  began  to  build  the  temple.  David  had 
gathered  much  of  the  costly  stones,  the  gold  and  silver 
for  the  building,  but  Solomon  was  to  be  the  builder. 

This  is  another  emblem  of  God  and  Christ.  God,  the 
Father,  will  prepare  the  costly  stones,  but  Christ  will 
build  the  Temple,  Christ  himself  the  chief  corner  stone. 

The  king  commanded  and  they  brought  great  and 
costly  stones,  and  hewed  stones  to  lay  the  foundation 
of  the  house  of  God.  How  many  costly  stones  have 
been  laid  in  the  foundation  of  the  temple,— the  church 


Solomon  189 

of  the  living  God,  since  the  first  Great  Stone,  Christ,  was 
laid  there. 

How  many  martyrs  and  saints  have  been  laid  on  top 
of  the  Great  Stone.  But,  O  God,  how  much  rubbish 
has  been  built  on  it  also,  that  must  be  torn  off  to  the 
last  particle  and  built  up  again  with  the  costly  and 
hewed  stones,  before  the  coming  of  the  Great  ICing. 

The  stones  for  the  building  were  made  ready  before 
they  were  brought  in,  so  there  was  neither  hammer  nor 
ax  nor  any  tool  of  iron  heard  in  the  house  while  it  was 
building. 

Another  emblem  of  God  building  his  temple  in  the 
human  heart.  He  needs  no  hammer,  but  the  work 
goes  on  silent  and  sure,  till  the  work  is  complete,  if  we 
will  only  let  the  worker  in. 

Solomon  kept  at  work  and  built  after  the  pattern 
the  Lord  commanded  till  it  was  finished,  then  he  dedi- 
cated it  to  God — just  what  has  to  be  done  with  the 
human  temple. 

But  we  are  told  of  the  building  of  the  second  temple 
that  is  to  outshine  the  first  in  all  its  glory.  Christ  is 
the  builder  of  the  second  temple,  and  each  of  us,  if  we 
like,  can  be  one  of  the  stones. 

Solomon  grew  very  great  and  his  fame  was  spread 
through  all  lands.  He  built  himself  a  great  house  to 
dwell  in. 

The  Queen  of  Sheba  heard  of  the  great  king,  but  she 
would  not  believe  all  that  she  heard  of  him;  so  she 
paid  him  a  visit  to  see  with  her  own  eyes.  And  when 
she  saw  him  in  all  his  greatness  and  wisdom,  she  said, 
"The  half  was  never  told." 


190  The  Spirit  Father 

How  many  of  the  unbelievers  to-day  would  like  to 
do  as  the  Queen  of  Sheba  did.  They  would  like  to  go 
and  see  Christ  the  Great  King  with  their  own  eyes,  to 
see  if  what  has  been  told  them  is  true ;  and  if  their  wish 
were  gratified  they  would  have  to  say  as  the  queen 
said,  "The  half  was  never  told." 

But  blessed  are  they  that  have  not  seen,  and  believe, 
we  know  the  half  has  never  been  told,  and  never  can  be 
told.  With  all  Solomon's  greatness  and  goodness  (and 
all  God's  goodness  to  him)  did  not  keep  him  true  and 
obedient  to  God.  Solomon  let  his  heart  be  drawn 
away  from  God  by  many  strange  women,  whom  God 
had  forbidden  him  to  know. 

And  he  turned  and  followed  after  their  gods,  and 
forgot  the  God  of  Israel  and  his  father's  commands, 
and  the  Lord  was  angry  with  him  and  told  him  that 
for  his  disobedience  and  idolatry  he  would  take  from 
him  his  kingdom.  So  Solomon  lost  his  kingdom 
through  his  idolatry  and  love  of  women. 

God,  to  keep  his  promise  to  David  gave  Solomon's 
son  one  tribe  to  rule  over  that  he  might  keep  one  of 
David's  seed  as  he  had  promised. 

Solomon  reigned  forty  years. 

Let  us  look  at  Solomon's  first  request  from  God.  He 
asked  for  understanding  and  wisdom.  But  the  wisdom 
and  understanding  Solomon  asked  for  was  only 
human  understanding  and  wisdom,  for  God  was  not 
dealing  with  men  from  the  spiritual  side  of  their  Ufe 
in  that  age.  All  of  Solomon's  work  was  to  be  in  earthly 
things,  all  his  works  and  greatness  was  of  the  earth, 
earthly,  and  all  perished. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


JOB. 


Job  was  one  of  the  greatest  and  richest  men  in  the 
east;  and  a  good  and  upright  man  before  God  in  that 
generation.  That  is  the  kind  of  man  that  Satan  Ukes 
to  get  hold  of  if  he  can. 

Job  had  a  large  family  of  seven  sons  and  three 
daughters;  great  stocks  of  camels,  sheep  and  oxen, 
and  a  great  many  servants. 

God  had  blessed  him  with  every  earthly  thing  that 
his  heart  could  desire. 

But  Job  had  his  troubles,  for  he  knew  his  family 
were  not  living  lives  that  were  pleasing  to  God.  They 
were  always  having  feastings,  or  good  times  as  we 
would  call  them. 

Job  would  get  up  early  in  the  morning  to  offer  burnt 
offerings  for  all  his  family  and  this  he  did  continually 
in  behalf  of  his  children. 

But  there  came  a  time  when  the  sons  of  God  came 
to  present  themselves  before  the  Lord  and  Satan  came 
among  them.  We  can  see  the  presumption  of  Satan 
in  coming  among  the  sons  of  God,  for  he  had  been  cast 
out  of  heaven,  away  from  the  presence  of  his  Father, 
for  his  rebellion,  and  cursed  by  him  for  lying  to  Eve. 

But  wherever  Satan  knows  he  can  get  at  his  evil 
work,  he  is  presumptive  enough  to  go  there. 

191 


192  The  Spirit  Father 

When  God  asked  him  where  he  came  from  he  said, 
"From  going  to  and  fro,  and  walking  up  and  down  on 
the  earth."  He  might  also  have  said,  and  doing  all  the 
evil  I  can  in  it! 

The  Lord  knew  well  what  Satan  was  there  for,  and 
he  asked  him,  if  he  had  ever  thought  what  a  good  and 
upright  man  Job  was. 

But  Satan  tried  to  make  God  doubt  Job's  sincerity. 
He  said,  "Do  you  think  Job  fears  God  for  nought;  have 
you  not  blessed  him  with  every  earthly  thing  he  can  wish 
for?  But  just  try  him  by  taking  away  from  him  all  the 
earthly  things  he  has,  and  he  will  curse  thee  to  thy 
face." 

We  see  here  the  malignant  character  of  the  evil  one. 
We  suppose  he  knew  that  Join's  wife  and  all  his  family 
belonged  to  him,  so  he  w^anted  to  get  Job  also.  For 
that  is  the  devil  now  as  then;  if  he  knows  there  is  one 
in  the  family  that  loves  and  serves  God,  he  will  not 
rest  till  he  get  that  one  along  with  the  others.  There 
may  be  a  dozen  in  the  family  as  there  were  in  Job's, 
and  eleven  of  them  may  belong  to  Satan,  he  will  not 
rest  till  he  get  the  twelfth  if  it  is  in  his  power  to  do  so. 

He  thought  he  had  found  a  way  to  get  Job  into  his 
hands  also. 

But  God  knew  Job  better,  and  gave  Satan  permission 
to  take  away  and  destroy  all  earthly  things  that  be- 
longed to  Job,  but  Job  himself,  he  was  not  to  touch. 
So  Satan  began  his  evil  work  by  destroying  his  oxen, 
his  asses,  his  cattle,  his  servants,  his  sons  and  daughters, 
— all  earthly  things  he  had  were  taken  from  him,  except 
his  wife.     Although  Job  thought  it  was  God  that  was 


Job  193 

taking  all  from  him,  he  was  still  faithful  to  God,  and 
said,  "Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

Satan  was  not  satisfied,  for  although  he  had  taken 
everything  from  Job  and  destroyed  all  he  had,  Job  had 
not  cursed  God  and  turned  from  him  to  serve  Satan. 
But  Satan  was  determined  to  try  again.  Just  as  he 
does  now,  for  he  will  let  no  one  off  with  one  trial;  but 
he  keeps  on  trying.  And  he  came  again  among  the 
sons  of  God  and  presented  himself.  And  the  Lord 
asked  him  if  he  had  considered  Job,  "How  he  holds 
fast  in  his  integrity  to  me,  although  thou  moved  me 
against  him,  to  destroy  all  he  had  without  a  cause." 
Satain  said,  "Yes  but  all  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for 
his  life.  Put  forth  thine  hand  now  and  touch  his  bone 
and  flesh  and  he  will  curse  thee  to  thy  face." 

God  told  Satan  he  could  do  as  he  pleased  to  the 
flesh,  but  he  must  not  injure  Job's  life.  Satan  smote 
Job  with  boils  from  his  feet  to  the  crown  of  his  head. 
And  when  his  wife  saw  his  condition,  she  asked  him  if 
he  still  retained  his  integrity  in  his  God.  "You  had 
better  curse  him  and  die."  But  Job  told  her  she  spoke 
like  one  of  the  foolish  women,  that  did  not  understand 
what  they  were  speaking  about. 

Job  thought  all  his  troubles  and  afflictions  were 
coming  on  him  from  the  hand  of  God.  And  many 
think  when  reading  the  book  it  was  God's  hand  that 
put  all  Job's  afflictions  on  him,  when  Satan  did  all 
the  evil  work.  The  devil  is  glad  and  happy;  that  is,  if 
he  is  ever  happy,  it  must  be  when  he  manages  to  get 
God's  people  to  believe  that  God  is  doing  the  devil's 
work. 


194  The  Spirit  Father 

That  is  what  Job  believed  in  his  ignorance,  and  as  the 
devil  blinded  Job,  so  he  is  blinding  millions  to-day. 

Job  had  some  very  good  friends,  and  when  they 
heard  of  all  the  troubles  and  afflictions  that  had  come 
on  liim,  three  of  them  made  an  appointment  to  come 
together  to  mourn  with  him  and  try  to  comfort  him. 
But  when  they  saw  him  they  did  not  know  him,  for  in 
place  of  seeing  Job  as  they  knew  him — in  all  his  riches 
and  grandeur,  surrounded  with  all  his  heart  could 
desire,  and  servants  at  his  command;  they  found  him 
sitting  in  dust  and  ashes  covered  with  a  most  filthy 
disease,  scraping  himself  with  a  potsherd.  Was  it  any 
wonder  they  did  not  know  him ;  but  they  sat  down  and 
wept  with  him. 

But  Job's  friends  were  like  many  of  our  friends  at  the 
present  day — they  were  not  much  comfort  to  him.  His 
trouble  was  beyond  human  help;  but  they  sat  down 
with  him  and  bowed  their  heads  toward  heaven,  that 
was  where  they  looked  for  help,  they  had  not  Christ  to 
lean  on,  neither  his  human  nor  divine  friendship,  as  we 
have. 

Strange  that  Job  had  only  three  friends  come  to  him 
altogether  out  of  all  he  had. 

We  will  look  at  the  characters  of  the  three  friends: 
Ehphaz  means  one  to  whom  God  is  strength;  Bildad 
means  son  of  contention  and  Zophar  means  chatter. 
They  all  sat  beside  him  seven  days  and  seven  nights 
and  none  spoke  a  word  to  him  for  they  saw  he  was  in 
great  grief. 

But  Eliphaz  was  the  first  to  speak  to  him,  he  said, 
"Job,  I  would  like  to  speak  to  thee  a  little  if  thou  wilt 


Job  195 

not  be  angry;  I  cannot  withhold  myself  from  speaking. 
Job,  I  know  thou  hast  instructed  many  and  strengthened 
the  weak,  and  thy  words  have  upheld  many  that  were 
falling;  but  now  when  trouble  has  come  upon  thee, 
thou  faintest. 

"What  hast  thou  to  fear,  remember  the  innocent 
never  perish,  nor  is  the  righteous  cut  off.  There  was  a 
thing  brought  to  me  in  a  vision  in  the  night  and  a  fear 
came  upon  me  till  I  trembled,  for  I  saw  a  spirit  pass 
before  my  face,  and  it  stood  still  before  me;  but  I  could 
not  discern  the  form,  an  image  was  before  mine  eyes 
and  I  heard  a  voice  saying,  'Shall  mortal  be  more  just 
than  God?  or  purer  than  his  maker?' "  That  as  Eliphaz' 
reproof  to  Job.  We  see  neither  Job  nor  his  friend  ever 
thought  it  was  Satan  that  was  doing  all  the  evil  to  Job, 
they  all  thought  it  was  God  that  was  punishing  him. 
They  were  all  trying  to  make  Job  see  that  his  punish- 
ment was  just;  that  he  must  have  disobeyed  God  in 
some  way. 

But  Job  maintained  his  innocence,  and  wished  to 
plead  his  cause  face  to  face  with  God. 

Then  Bildad  said,  "  Let  me  speak  to  thee  now  for  the 
words  of  thy  mouth  are  like  wind.  Do  you  think  God 
perverts  judgment?  or  do  you  think  the  Almighty  per- 
verts justice?  0,  no,  if  thy  children  have  sinned 
against  him  and  he  has  cast  them  away  for  their  trans- 
gression; why  do  you  not  go  to  him  and  make  thy 
supplications  if  thou  wert  pure  and  upright;  surely  he 
would  make  the  habitation  of  thy  righteousness  pros- 
perous and  though  thy  beginning  be  small,  yet  thy 
latter  end  will  greatly  increase.     For  God  is  ever  good 


196  The  Spirit  Father 

to   the   righteous,   but    the   hypocrite   shall    perish." 

Then  Zophar  speaks,  he  says:  "Job,  you  think  your 
doctrine  is  pure  and  thou  art  clean  in  thine  own  eyes; 
but  O,  that  God  would  open  his  lips  and  show  thee 
^\^sdom,  and  thou  would  see  that  God  exacteth  less 
from  thee  than  thine  iniquity  deserveth."  We  see  all 
of  Job's  friends  wanted  him  to  believe  that  God  was 
punishing  him  for  his  sins. 

But  Job  answered  his  friends  and  said,"  No  doubt 
you  are  the  people  and  all  wisdom  shall  die  with  you, 
but  I  have  understanding  as  well  as  you,  neither  am  I 
inferior  to  you  who  think  you  know  so  much.  I  am 
as  one  mocked  of  his  neighbors,  a  just  and  upright  man 
laughed  to  scorn;  what  ye  know  I  know  also.  Surely 
I  \vill  speak  to  the  Almighty,  and  I  desire  to  reason 
with  God.  But  ye  are  all  forgers  of  lies,  ye  are  all 
physicians  of  no  value. 

"O,  that  ye  would  altogether  hold  your  peace  and  it 
should  be  your  wisdom."  80  Job  turned  from  his 
human  friends  and  appealed  to  God.  But  another 
friend  comes  along  named  Elihu,  and  he  said,  "I  am 
young  and  you  are  very  old;  wherefore  I  was  afraid  to 
show  my  opinion,  for  I  thought  your  age  would  teach 
you  wisdom ;  but  great  men  are  not  always  wise,  neither 
do  the  aged  understand  judgment,  but  there  is  a  spirit 
in  man,  and  if  he  seeketh  God,  the  inspiration  of  the 
Almighty  will  give  him  understanding." 

Ehhu  offered  himself  to  reason  with  Job  in  behalf  of 
God;  so  he  goes  on  to  tell  Job  that  God  giveth  account 
of  his  ways  or  doings  to  no  man ;  and  that  he  called  all 
men  to  repentance,  by  visions  or  afflictions  and  by 


Job  197 

ministry,  until  Job's  attention  was  drawn  to  him,  then 
he  said,  "God  cannot  be  unjust."  Then  he  showed  how 
he  was  just  in  all  he  did,  and  the  greatness  of  God's 
works  and  wisdom,  until  Job  saw  himself  as  he  was 
before  God,  and  he  cried,  "I  have  sinned,  behold,  I  am 
vile;  what  shall  I  answer  thee,  I  can  speak  no  further." 

Then  the  Lord  spoke  to  Job  out  of  the  whirlwind, 
"Gird  up  now  thy  loins  like  a  man,  for  I  will  demand 
of  thee,  and  answer  me  if  thou  canst:  Where  wert 
thou,  Job,  when  I  laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth,  or 
who  laid  the  measures,  or  stretched  the  line  upon  it? 
or  where  are  the  foundations  fastened?  or  who  laid  the 
corner  stone  when  the  morning  stars  sang  and  the 
sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy?  or  who  shut  up  the  sea, 
when  I  made  the  cloud  a  garment  to  cover  the  heavens, 
and  made  a  place  for  the  sea,  set  bars  and  doors  in 
it  and  said,  hitherto  shalt  thou  come  and  no  further; 
here  shall  thy  proud  waves  be  stayed." 

We  might  go  on  writing  many  chapters  on  the 
questions  God  put  to  Job,  but  we  would  rather  our 
readers,  whoever  they  may  be,  would  take  the  Bible 
and  search  it  all  out  for  themselves. 

God  was  just  convincing  Job  of  his  ignorance  and 
imbecility.  And  that  is  just  what  we  need  to  be  con- 
vinced of,  our  ignorance;  for  we  are  so  ignorant  about 
ourselves,  that  we  are  ignorant  of  what  God  our  father 
is  to  us,  and  what  we  really  are  to  him;  and  what  Christ 
is,  and  has  done  for  us. 

It  is  ignorance  that  is  making  the  trouble  with  God's 
people  in  the  world;  not  ignorant  for  want  of  human 
knowledge  or  education,  for  we  have  great  and  learned 


198  The  Spirit  Father 

men  and  women;  but  the  majority  are  ignorant  in  divine 
learning,  divine  wisdom,  and  divine  understanding. 
The  majority  of  the  human  race  to-day  are  in  ignorance 
of  God  as  their  spirit  father. 

When  Job  was  brought  to  see  the  glory  and  power 
of  God,  he  humbled  himself  before  God;  but  he  would 
not  humble  himself  before  his  friends  and  fellowmen,  for 
he  felt  he  was  as  good  as  they.  But  when  it  came  to 
humbling  himself  before  God  it  was  different.  (There 
is  one  chapter  in  the  book  of  Job  that  I  would  Uke  to 
draw  the  attention  of  the  reader  to: — the  forty-first 
chapter;  read  it  carefully  and  prayerfully,  and  ask  your- 
self if  you  know  or  can  understand  who  God  is.  God 
draws  Job's  attention  to  the  Leviathan,  the  great  sea 
monster;  we  believe  he  is  showing  him  where  the 
great  evil  spirit  of  the  devil  is  sealed  up,  and  we  believe 
that  is  where  many  of  the  evil  spirits  are  chained  and 
shut  up  in  the  great  sea  monster,  for  they  are  the  devils 
of  the  deep;  and  we  believe  in  many  parts  of  the  deep 
are  the  bottomless  pits  where  they  are  sealed  till  the 
judgment  day.  But  may  all  who  read  this,  read  the 
forty-first  chapter  of  Job  and  study  over  it.) 

Then  Job  cried,  "Lord,  I  have  heard  of  thee  by  my  ear 
but  now  I  have  seen  thee  with  mine  eyes,  and  I  abhor 
myself  and  repent."  God  accepted  his  repentance  and 
blessed  Job,  and  gave  him  back  abundantly  more  than 
Satan  had  taken  away.  Oxen,  sheep,  camels  and  asses, 
seven  more  sons,  and  three  daughters,  and  in  all  the 
land  no  women  were  found  so  fair  as  the  daughters 
of  Job,  and  their  father  gave  them  an  inheritance  among 
their  brethren.     Job  Uved  to  be  a  hundred  and  forty 


Job  199 

years  old,  and  saw  his  son's  sons,  four  generations,  and 
died  in  a  good  old  age. 

Do  we  not  see  many  Jobs  in  the  world?  O,  yes, 
covered  with  the  filthy  garments  of  sin,  disease,  and 
shame;  we  find  a  Job,  as  his  friends  found  him.  And 
when  we  can  show  that  man  the  way  to  God  by  true 
repentance,  if  he  repent,  we  often  find  him  again,  blessed 
with  God's  mercy  (perhaps  years  after)  a  happy,  pros- 
perous man,  with  his  family  returned  to  him,  living 
in  contentment,  joy,  and  peace;  loving  and  obeying 
God.  And  they  are  fair  and  beautiful  to  look  at  in 
their  holy  and  happy  life. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


JONAH. 


Jonah  is  spoken  of  in  "Kings"  as  the  servant  of  God, 
and  in  "Matthew"  as  the  prophet  Jonas.  But  why 
was  he  cast  into  the  sea?  Nineveh  was  a  great  and 
wicked  city,  and  God's  anger  was  turned  against  it. 
So  word  came  from  the  Lord  to  Jonah,  to  go  and  tell 
the  people  that  God  was  going  to  destroy  their  city. 
But  instead  of  doing  what  the  Lord  commanded 
him,  he  fled  to  Joppa,  there  he  found  a  ship  ready  to 
sail  to  another  country,  took  passage  in  it  to  a  place 
called  Tarshish. 

He  thought  if  he  could  get  away  from  the  presence 
of  the  Lord,  he  would  not  have  to  obey  his  father's 
command.  But  when  the  ship  got  out  into  the  sea, 
there  arose  such  a  tempest  that  the  mariners  feared 
the  ship  would  be  broken  in  pieces,  they  were  all  afraid, 
and  every  man  cried  unto  his  god  to  save  them.  They 
cast  part  of  their  freight  into  the  sea  to  lighten  the 
vessel,  but  it  did  no  good.  When  the  shipmaster 
found  Jonah  asleep,  he  was  angry  and  said,  "What  do 
you  mean  by  sleeping  when  we  are  in  such  danger;  arise 
and  call  upon  your  God  that  he  may  help  us,  that 
we  do  not  perish." 

But  the  storm  did  not  cease. 

200 


Jonah  201 

They  said  there  must  be  some  evil  one  amongst  them, 
and  they  cast  lots  to  see  who  it  was,  and  the  lot  fell  on 
Jonah. 

They  asked  him  what  evil  he  had  done  and  where 
he  came  from,  what  his  occupation  was,  and  what 
country  and  people  he  belonged  to. 

He  told  them  he  was  a  Hebrew  and  feared  the  Lord 
God  of  heaven.  When  the  men  heard  that,  they  were 
all  afraid,  for  they  knew  he  had  fled  from  the  presence 
of  the  Lord.  They  asked  him  what  they  were  to  do 
with  him,  that  the  sea  might  be  calmed  before  they  all 
perished. 

He  told  them  to  cast  him  into  the  sea;  and  they 
did  so,  and  the  sea  became  calm.  Although  Jonah 
thought  he  had  gotten  out  of  the  Lord's  presence  by 
fleeing  to  another  country,  God's  eyes  and  hand  were 
still  on  him. 

God  had  prepared  for  Jonah's  being  cast  into  the  sea, 
and  had  a  great  fish  there  ready  to  swallow  him  up,  and 
he  was  kept  three  days  and  three  nights  shut  up 
inside  the  fish.  (It  is  one  thing,  you  know,  to  be 
eaten  up,  and  another  thing  to  be  shut  up.)  Jonah 
was  only  shut  up  so  that  he  knew  where  he  was. 
And  when  he  remembered  what  he  was  shut  up  for, 
he  prayed  and  cried  to  God.  He  repented,  and  God 
heard  him  and  spoke  to  the  fish  and  it  brought  Jonah 
upon  dry  land  and  vomited  him  up.  Jonah  must  have 
promised  to  obey  God,  for  when  word  was  sent  to  him 
the  second  time  to  go  and  preach  in  the  city  of  Nineveh, 
Jonah  went  and  cried  through  the  city  that  God  would 
overthrow  the  city  in  forty  days.     The  people  were  all 


202  The  Spirit  Father 

afraid,  for  they  believed  that  God  would  do  it,  and 
they  brought  word  to  the  king  and  he  sent  out  a  decree 
that  neither  man  nor  beast  were  to  eat  or  drink,  but 
that  all  were  to  be  covered  in  sack  cloth.  And  "every 
one  turn  from  their  ways;  and  who  can  tell  but  God 
will  yet  forgive,  and  turn  away  his  fierce  anger  from  us 
that  we  may  not  perish.''  God  saw  all  they  were  doing 
and  that  they  had  turned  from  their  evil  ways  and  did 
what  they  thought  was  required  of  them,  that  is,  as  far 
as  their  light  and  understanding  led  them.  God  had 
mercy  and  spared  them  at  that  time. 

Jonah  made  himself  a  booth  outside  the  city  and  sat 
in  it,  to  watch  and  see  what  would  become  of  the  city, 
as  he  expected  it  to  be  destroyed.  Jonah  may  have 
waited  there  a  good  while  for  God  did  not  destroy  it  at 
that  time.  Whether  Jonah  sat  there  long  enough  to  be 
real  hungry  or  not  we  do  not  know,  but  he  was  dis- 
pleased and  angry  with  God  for  not  destroying  the  city 
and  the  people.  God  took  pity  on  Jonah  and  prepared 
him  a  gourd.  (A  gourd  is  a  plant  with  fruit  on  it.) 
So  Jonah  could  both  sit  in  the  shadow  of  the  gourd 
and  be  sheltered  from  the  sun  and  eat  the  fruit  to  keep 
him  from  being  faint.  Jonah  was  very  glad  to  have 
the  gourd,  but  a  worm  smote  the  gourd  and  the  next 
morning  it  withered  away,  and  the  sun  beat  on  Jonah's 
head  till  he  was  faint.  And  he  was  angry  that  the  gourd 
had  withered,  and  sorry  about  it  being  destroyed. 

Then  the  Lord  spake  to  him,  "Well,  Jonah,  thou  art 
sorry  and  hast  pity  on  the  gourd,  which  never  cost 
thee  any  labor,  neither  didst  thou  make  it  grow,  it  came 
up  in  a  night  and  perished  in  a  night,  so  it  was  not  of 


Jonah  203 

much  account,  still  you  would  wish  it  spared,  and 
should  I  not  wish  to  spare  Nineveh,  that  great  city, 
where  there  are  more  than  sixscore  thousand  persons 
that  do  not  know  their  right  hand  from  their  left?" 

O,  good  and  loving  father!  How  he  can  pity  and 
spare  his  poor  ignorant  children!  but  in  this  age  and 
generation  there  need  be  few  ignorant  unless  they  are 
willfully  so.  What  lesson  or  light  do  we  find  in  the 
short  history  of  Jonah?  First:  that  Jonah,  for  his 
disobedience,  was  cast  into  hell;  and  that  is  just  where 
we  believe  he  was.  Remember  he  was  shut  up  in  the 
fish  and  he  knew  he  was  there,  and  he  said,  he  was 
in  the  belly  of  hell.  We  believe  that  the  bottomless 
pit  is  in  the  depths  of  the  sea,  and  that  the  mysteries 
of  God  are  locked  up  in  the  bottom  of  the  seas,  just  as 
sure  as  they  are  in  the  heavens  above. 

Many  strange  voices  and  cries  are  heard  from  the 
depths  of  the  ocean.  Many  are  trying  to  penetrate 
into  the  mysteries  of  the  deep,  as  well  as  into  the 
mysteries  of  heaven.  But  no  one  will  ever  find  out 
the  mysteries  of  God  until  God  reveals  them  himself. 
But  to  those  who  search  the  Book  with  prayer,  and 
true  earnest  desire  to  know  God's  will  and  earnestly 
seeking  the  spirit's  light  and  wisdom,  God  will  lead 
them  to  see  and  understand  many  of  his  mysteries,  if 
he  finds  them  faithful. 

We  next  see  that  Jonah  was  sent  out  as  God's  messen- 
ger to  tell  the  people  what  God  was  going  to  do  to 
them.  They  believed  and  turned  from  their  sins.  How 
many  are  told  in  this  age  that  God  will  punish  and  cast 
them  into  hell,  if  they  do  not  repent,  and  turn  from 


204  The  Spirit  Father 

their  evil  and  careless  lives;  but  they  \\n\\  not  believe 
or  pay  any  heed  to  the  warning  until  it  is  too  late,  for 
our  spirit  Father's  love  and  mercy  has  its  limit. 

But  we  believe  there  are  more  of  his  children  disobey- 
ing him  through  the  careless  lives  they  live,  than  those 
that  are  actually  living  evil,  vicious  lives.  And  what 
is  the  cause?  It  is  largely  due  to  the  state  and  teach- 
ings of  the  churches  and  church  people  in  the  careless 
and  social  lives  they  live. 

Their  example  is  leading  millions  away  from  their 
God  and  father,  and  into  the  hands  of  Satan  and  hell. 

O,  sister  and  brother,  will  you  not  take  time  to  think 
and  consider  what  you  are,  and  what  your  life  is,  and 
what  a  responsibility  lays  upon  all  who  profess  to  be 
teachers  or  preachers  of  God's  word,  as  well  as  on  all 
those  calling  themselves  Christians. 

But  the  time  will  come,  as  God  has  promised,  that 
his  people  must  be  gathered  together  in  unity  and 
power  through  faith  and  obedience,  into  one  great, 
glorious,  powerful  church  of  the  living  God. 

What  does  Jonah's  act  concerning  the  gourd  teach 
us?  Human  man,  in  all  his  selfishness,  and  God  in 
all  his  mercies. 

God  will  always  be  merciful  to  his  children  who 
disobey  in  ignorance,  when  he  sees  them  willing  to 
receive  his  warning  and  turn  from  their  evil  ways,  and 
doing  all  they  can  with  the  light  they  have,  just  as 
he  did  to  the  Ninevites,  after  Jonah  told  them  God 
would  destroy  them  for  their  wickedness. 

God  did  not  send  word  with  Jonah  if  they  would 
repent  he  would  forgive  them  and  give  them  ever- 


Jonah  205 

lasting  life.  The  time  had  not  come  for  that  message. 
It  was  reserved  for  Jesus  to  bring  to  God's  children. 
But  God  saw  the  Ninevites  in  their  ignorant  condition, 
doing  all  they  could,  and  God's  love  and  pity  went  to 
them. 

We  cannot  now  find  many  of  the  human  race  that 
do  not  know  the  right  hand  from  the  left.  Where 
we  find  ignorance  in  this  age  it  is  willful  ignorance, 
with  few  exceptions.  There  never  was  a  time  in  the 
world's  history  that  the  human  race  had  the  intelligence 
they  have  at  the  present  age.  But  men  are  so  blinded 
that  they  do  not  see  God's  work  and  ways  in  these 
things.  They  think  it  is  human  man  that  is  advancing 
all  things  by  his  science.  Poor  blind  mortals  we  are, 
when  we  cannot  see  God's  hand  in  every  change  on 
the  human  race,  and  on  every  advancement  in  the 
world. 

Man  may  invent,  but  God  himself  is  the  inventor. 

This  lesson  on  Jonah's  being  shut  up  in  the  fish  is  a 
symbol  of  the  spirit  being  shut  up  in  darkness  in  the 
old  covenant  for  disobedience,  and  Hberated  under  the 
new  covenant  through  repentance. 

Note. — Whether  many  of  the  lessons  we  have  in  the 
Old  Testament  are  figurative  or  not  they  are  all  inspired 
writings  to  give  instruction,  teaching,  and  light  to  all 
generations.  And  those  that  receive  the  divine  teach- 
ings from  them  will  be  wise. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE    father's    promises    TO    HIS    OBEDIENT    CHILDREN. 

God's  promises  are  made  to  all  his  children,  good 
and  bad.  And  when  all  God's  children  are  taken  in, 
it  means  every  human  creature  in  the  world,  rich  and 
poor,  high  and  low,  black  and  white,  from  every  nation 
and  every  creed. 

But  God  has  two  kinds  of  children  in  his  family. 
He  has  his  good,  obedient  and  faithful  children,  and 
he  has  disobedient,  rebellious  children.  So  his  promises 
are  made  to  both,  according  to  the  children  he  is  talking 
to. 

We  could  not  write  all  God's  promises  in  this  volume, 
nor  in  many  volumes,  so  we  will  only  bring  before  the 
readers  a  few,  hoping  the  readers  will  take  the  Bible  and 
search  the  promises  for  themselves;  for,  O,  how  precious 
are  the  promises  of  God  to  his  children  if  we  would 
only  find  out  and  understand  them.  How  many 
heavy  burdens  would  be  lifted  from  the  weary  human 
heart,  and  how  many  of  the  sinful  would  be  turned  from 
their  wicked  ways;  and  how  many  of  the  rich  in  this 
world's  goods  would  share  with  their  poorer  brothers 
and  sisters,  in  place  of  spending  all  on  self.  The  sick 
and  suffering  would  have  many  comforts  that  are 
withheld  from  them  now.  But  I  believe  the  time 
is  here,  or  near  at  hand,  when  man  and  woman  will 

206 


The  Father's  Promises  207 

have  the  Spirit's  light  poured  in  on  them,  and  they  will 
know  themselves  and  know  their  father. 

One  of  God's  promises,  I  believe,  is  being  fulfilled 
at  the  present  time.  He  said  he  would  send  a  famine 
throughout  the  land,  but  it  would  not  be  a  famine 
for  bread  or  water,  but  a  hungering  to  hear  and  know 
the  word  of  God.  I  do  not  think  there  ever  was  a  time 
in  the  world's  history  when  the  people,  individually, 
have  hungered  and  thirsted  for  the  word  of  God  as 
they  do  now.  The  cry  is  heard  from  all  nations, 
"O,  God,  give  us  light,  and  let  us  know  the  Gospel  in 
its  fullness."  For  God's  children,  even  those  that  are 
earnest  to  know  and  understand  the  teachings  and 
promises  of  their  father,  have  been  blinded  by  the 
teachings  and  preachings  of  the  blind  shepherds.  But 
the  father  hears  the  cry  of  his  little  ones,  and  is  leading 
them  out  into  the  green  pastures,  where  they  will 
have  both  light  and  food  for  all  that  are  ready  and 
wiUing  to  accept,  on  the  father's  conditions,  and  the 
shepherds  may  go  with  the  sheep  if  they  are  willing. 
This  promise  was  made  under  the  old  covenant,  and 
will  be  fulfilled  under  the  new  covenant,  that  his 
children  that  were  not  capable  of  understanding  the 
teachings  and  work  of  God,  under  the  old  covenant, 
would  hear  it  from  the  Book  (the  Bible).  And  by  their 
hearing  and  understanding  they  would  be  brought 
out  of  their  darkness,  and  that  the  people  and  nations 
that  would  not  turn  and  obey  God,  after  they  had  heard 
the  Word,  should  perish. 

God  also  promises  to  do  a  marvelous  work  amongst 
the  people,  and  perform  a  great  wonder.      He  says 


208  The  Spirit  Father 

the  wisdom  of  the  wnse  men  shall  perish  and  their 
great  understanding  shall  be  brought  to  nothing,  and 
the  unlearned  that  crieth  in  spirit  shall  come  to  under- 
standing, and  they  that  know  nothing  shall  learn 
doctrine,  and  the  Spirit  shall  be  poured  on  them  from 
on  high;  and  the  work  of  righteousness  shall  be  peace, 
the  effects  of  righteousness  shall  be  quietness  and 
assurance  forever.  And  God's  people  shall  dwell  in  a 
peaceable  habitation  and  in  sure  dwelUngs,  and  in 
quiet  resting  places.  And  the  Lord  will  be  exalted, 
and  he  shall  gather  his  people  from  among  all  the 
nations  of  the  earth. 

And  again,  the  glorious  promises  of  the  restoration 
of  Jerusalem.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  "I  was  jealous 
fo*"  Zion,  the  city  of  David,  and  I  will  return  and  dwell 
in  the  midst  of  Jerusalem.  And  it  shall  be  called  a 
city  of  truth,  and  the  mountain  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts, 
and  there  shall  yet  be  old  men  and  old  women  dwell 
in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem  and  the  men  shall  have 
their  staffs  in  their  hand  for  very  age;  and  the  streets 
of  the  city  shall  be  full  of  boys  and  girls  playing  therein. 
And  I  will  save  my  people  from  the  east  country,  and 
from  the  west  country;  and  it  shall  come  to  pass  that 
the  people  shall  come  from  many  cities,  and  the  inhabit- 
ants of  one  city  shall  go  to  another,  saying,  'Let  us 
go  speedily  to  pray  before  the  Lord,  and  to  seek  to 
know  God.'" 

And  the  Jew  shall  come,  saying,  "We  will  go  with  thee 
for  we  have  heard  that  God  is  with  you. "  So  rejoice,  O, 
children  of  God,  for  the  King  cometh!     So  turn  to  the 


The  Father's  Promises  209 

stronghold  ye  prisoners  of  hope,  and  the  Lord  shall  save 
you,  he  shall  defend  you,  and  you  shall  subdue  your 
enemy  (Satan).  And  the  Lord  shall  count  you  as  one 
of  his  flock,  and  you  shall  be  as  one  of  the  stones  in  the 
crown  of  Christ  that  will  be  lifted  up  as  an  ensign 
upon  the  whole  earth. 

Now  who  were  the  prisoners?  and  what  stronghold 
were  they  to  turn  to  in  the  hope  of  being  liberated? 
Let  me  here  interpret:  The  prisoners  spoken  of  were 
the  spirits  imprisoned  in  the  flesh,  and  held  in  bondage 
to  Satan,  because  they  were  held  in  a  slumbering  or 
sleeping  condition  from  the  fall  of  man,  for  their  dis- 
obedience to  God,  and  had  no  power  to  claim  their 
spiritual  birthright;  so  had  to  live  under  the  bondage 
of  the  flesh  till  God's  appointed  time.  And  the  strong- 
hold God  was  telling  them  to  turn  to  was  Christ,  for  in 
Christ  is  the  hope  of  every  sinner's  salvation.  This 
also  symbolizes  the  words  in  the  new  covenant,  that 
Christ  at  his  death  liberated  the  spirits  in  hell  that 
were  disobedient  from  the  time  of  Noe.  Then  another 
promise  of  God's  to  the  children  of  Israel  was  that  he 
would  cleanse  their  blood.  Now  this  is  the  greatest 
promise  God  has  made  to  man,  and  when  this  promise 
is  fulfilled  in  man,  his  soul  will  be  completely  delivered 
from  the  power  of  Satan,  and  not  until  then. 

Now  let  me  interpret  what  the  meaning  of  this  is. 
We  will  have  to  go  back  a  little  way  in  the  work. 
When  God  called  Moses  to  take  the  children  of  Israel 
into  the  wilderness,  he  provided  for  them  the  kind  of 
food  they  were  to  eat.     And  the  animal  flesh  was  a 


210  The  Spirit  Father 

forbidden  food  to  them.  God  was  then  going  to  cleanse 
their  blood.  Their  blood  was  a  mixture  of  the  animal 
and  human. 

They  were  not  contented  with  the  food  God  provided 
for  them,  they  murmured  against  God  and  Moses,  and 
wanted  flesh  and  were  willing  to  go  back  into  their  bond- 
age to  get  the  flesh  their  nature  craved  for. 

So  God  sent  them  flesh,  and  they  were  slain  while 
the  very  flesh  was  in  their  mouths.  That  means 
that  the  spiritual  life  in  them  was  killed  for  all  the 
Mosaic  dispensations  until  God  opened  the  way  for 
the  cleansing  of  their  blood  again  under  the  new  cove- 
nant. Now  let  us  see  what  this  blood  cleansing  means; 
for  all  flesh  that  will  be  redeemed  out  of  Satan's  power 
must  come  under  the  blood  cleansing  process. 

This  is  not  the  cleansing  blood  of  Christ  I  am  speaking 
of,  but  the  cleansing  of  the  human  blood.  The  blood 
of  the  animal  brute  (after  its  species)  is  purer  than 
the  blood  of  the  human  race,  for  the  brute  animal  does 
not  eat  of  the  animal  flesh  as  a  food,  but  the  human 
race,  with  few  exceptions,  feed  largely  on  animal  flesh 
and  the  seed  (the  life)  is  in  the  blood  and  no  matter  how 
well  the  blood  may  be  drawn  from  the  animal  when 
it  is  killed,  the  flesh  still  contains  a  large  amount  of  the 
blood.  And  the  food  we  eat  goes  to  strengthen  and 
nourish  our  blood.  From  the  blood  the  body  receives 
its  nourishment  and  strength.  So  that  man's  blood 
is  largely  nourished  from  the  animal  blood,  that  is  what 
keeps  man  under  the  power  of  animal  lust,  and  under 
the  power  of  Satan. 

Now  before  God's  work  can  be  accomplished  in  man, 


The  Father's  Promises  211 

and  man  redeemed  out  of  Satan's  power,  and  God's 
glory  made  manifest  and  the  power  of  Satan  subdued, 
that  promise  must  be  fulfilled.  There  must  be  a  com- 
plete cleansing  out  of  the  animal  blood  from  the  human 
blood,  and  death  to  the  animal  seed  in  man.  Then, 
how  is  this  to  be  accomplished?  When  the  spiritual 
side  of  our  nature  begins  to  overrule  the  natural  side 
of  our  being,  the  desire  for  animal  food  and  everything 
unclean  begins  to  die  out  of  the  heart,  and  they  have 
no  desire  for  such  food. 

There  are  multitudes  of  God's  children  who  under- 
stand that  God  never  intended  the  human  race  to  eat  of 
animal  flesh  as  a  food,  and  they  totally  abstain  from  it. 

Then  the  next  step  in  the  cleansing  of  man  and  the 
working  out  of  God's  plan  for  man's  redemption,  will 
be  the  total  abstaining  of  God's  children  from  the 
animal  lust. 

They  will  be  brought  into  that  condition  that  no 
desire  of  lust  will  be  in  their  heart.  And  if  the  desire 
is  not  in  the  heart  no  one  would  commit  the  act.  Then 
God's  child  will  not  propagate  and  bring  forth 
children  from  the  animal  seed  in  man.  Man,  after  the 
fall,  was  only  under  permission  to  do  so  for  God's 
purpose,  and  until  God's  time  came  to  withdraw  that 
permission.  And  that  permission  is  withdrawn  from 
every  creature  as  soon  as  God  has  them  prepared 
and  gives  them  the  light  and  understanding. 

All  the  human  flesh  brought  into  the  world  from  the 
seed  of  man,  is  filling  Satan's  hands  with  power,  for 
all  flesh  belongs  to  Satan  until  it  is  redeemed  through 
Christ. 


212  The  Spirit  Father 

God,  the  father  of  the  spirit — Man,  the  begetter  of 
the  flesh,  by  the  seed  of  the  animal  (Devil).  For 
every  creature  that  is  converted  and  fully  redeemed 
out  of  Satan's  power,  look  how  many  are  born  into 
the  world  to  fill  his  hands  with  power, 

God's  redeemed  children  must  be  brought  into  such  a 
condition  that  there  will  be  no  propagation  from  them 
before  Satan's  power  can  be  subdued,  and  not  till 
then  will  Satan's  power  be  broken  on  earth.  But 
God's  children  must  not  stop  bringing  in  their  offsprings 
by  destroying  their  own  seed,  for  that  is  not  permis- 
sible by  God,  for  that  only  gives  Satan  double  power; 
it  gives  him  power  over  the  parents  as  well  as  over 
the  children,  for  it  is  sin  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  he 
will  surely  punish  the  destroyers  of  their  own  seed. 
The  power  to  abstain  must  come  from  the  conquering 
power  of  the  spiritual  seed  over  the  power  of  the  animal 
seed,  the  one  must  kill  the  other. 

Many  of  God's  children  arc  brought  into  that  pure 
state  now,  and  many  more  are  being  prepared.  Woe 
to  woman  that  is  found  with  child  when  God's  day 
comes,  she  will  bear  the  mark  of  the  beast,  and  woe 
to  the  woman  that  gives  suck  on  that  day,  she  will  bear 
the  mark  of  the  beast,  and  blessed  is  the  womb  that  never 
bare,  and  the  pap  that  never  gave  suck. 

They  have  brought  the  flesh  into  the  world  to  fill 
the  hands  of  Satan  with  power.  But  woe  unto  those 
that  have  destroyed  their  own  seed,  to  keep  them  from 
child  bearing,  for  God  will  punish  them. 

Has  there  ever  been  a  time  in  history,  in  the  midst  of 
civilized  people,  that  Satan's  power,  through  the  brute 


The  Father's  Promises  213 

lust  in  man,  has  been  more  powerful  than  in  the  present 
age?  Not  a  day  but  we  can  read  from  the  pubHc 
press  of  the  rapist,  from  the  youth  in  his  teens,  to 
the  old  gray-headed  brute;  a  woman  is  not  safe  in  the 
very  privacy  of  her  own  home. 

Our  daughters,  from  the  child  of  a  few  years  old,  to 
the  maiden  in  the  bloom  of  her  virgin  purity,  are  hardly 
safe  out  of  their  parent's  sight  from  the  hands  of  the 
rapist,  or  the  power  of  the  tempter,  for  a  man  that 
tempts  a  child  or  a  woman  into  sin  is  as  bad  in  a  sense 
as  the  rapist,  for  he  is  a  deliler.  0,  God  of  heaven! 
that  blind  human  mortals  should  ever  have  been 
brought  by  the  power  of  Satan  to  believe  that  the  pure 
and  holy  being  we  call  our  Father  in  heaven,  ever 
planted  in  the  human  nature  the  lust  of  the  brute,  for 
the  working  out  of  his  own  purpose.  Well  may  Satan 
laugh  at  his  power  over  the  human  race  through  all 
the  ages  since  the  fall  of  man,  but  he  knows  his  time 
of  power  is  drawing  to  an  end.  And  God's  plan  will  be 
worked  out,  and  all  the  powers  of  Satan  and  hell  cannot 
turn  God's  plan  one  step  aside.  Nor  can  all  Satan's 
power  avert  the  punishment  that  will  fall  on  him  and 
all  who  live  in  disobedience  and  carelessness  to  the 
spiritual  law  of  God. 

Dear  reader,  if  there  was  no  "after"  we  might  all 
live  this  life  as  best  pleased  ourselves,  but  the  awful 
"after." 

The  man  that  believes  and  follows  the  teachings  of 
Christ,  need  never  fear  the  "after,"  for  Christ  conquered 
the  power  of  Satan  and  severed  the  first  link  that  bound 
man  to  Satan,  and  man  can,  with  God's  help,  break 


214  The  Spirit  Father 

every  other  link  himself  and  stand  forth  a  free-born 
son  of  God. 

When  Christ  cried  on  the  cross,  "It  is  finished,"  that 
meant  Satan's  power  was  finished  over  man,  if  they 
would  obey  God — every  one  that  truly  believed  that 
Christ  was  the  son  of  God,  conceived  by  the  word  of 
his  power,  born  without  the  seed  of  man;  every  spirit 
that  confesses  Christ,  (mind;  not  every  one  that  con- 
fesses Christ  with  their  mouth)  for  the  Devil  has  lots 
of  people  that  confess  Christ  with  their  mouths,  and 
he  owns  them  spirit,  soul,  and  body.  The  confession 
must  be  from  the  heart,  then  that  spirit  will  belong 
to  God.  And  if  that  spirit  leaves  an  unredeemed  body 
God  will  reincarnate  that  spirit  again  and  again,  until 
it  leaves  a  perfectly  redeemed  body,  then  that  spirit 
will  go  right  home  to  its  Father,  and  go  out  no  more 
until  it  is  reclothed  at  the  judgment  to  come  with 
Christ. 

You  will  find  in  Revelation,  where  we  are  told  they 
will  go  out  no  more,  they  have  worked  out  their  own 
salvation,  and  claimed  their  spiritual  birthright,  the 
right  to  return  to  their  spirit  father's  home  (as  Christ 
did). 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church  is  the  one  church  that 
seems  to  have  a  dim  light  upon  the  cleansing  required 
before  the  spirit  can  enter  heaven,  but  they  have  only 
a  shadow  of  the  light.  For  their  church  is  too  impure 
a  condition  to  receive  of  spiritual  light,  and  it  doee 
seem  to  be  the  same  with  all  other  denominations,  the 
veil  that  Moses  put  upon  his  face  when  he  spoke  the 
words  of  God  to  the  children  of  Israel  in  their  sinful 


The  Father's  Promises  215 

condition,  that  veil  still  hangs  between  the  sinner  and 
God,  when  they  hear  or  read  the  word  of  God  they  do 
not  understand,  they  have  no  spiritual  light.  But 
there  is  no  veil  drawn  between  the  sinner  and  Christ,  but 
Christ  represents  the  veil  between  the  sinner  and  God. 
And  those  that  truly  repent  and  go  to  Christ  for  teaching 
will  have  the  veil  lifted  when  they  are  brought  to  a 
condition  to  be  able  to  receive  the  light,  but  they  must 
be  fed  on  the  milk,  before  they  can  be  able  to  receive 
the  meat  (light). 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church  preaches  a  purgatory 
for  the  cleansing  of  the  soul  after  death.  But  there 
can  be  no  cleansing  of  the  soul  apart  from  the  spirit. 
God  prepared  this  earth  for  the  dwelling  place  of  his 
human  creatures  in  their  triune  form,  spirit,  soul,  and 
body  in  one.  And  they  were  capable  of  remaining 
in  the  spiritual  state  God  created  them  in.  But  man 
fell  from  his  spiritual  state  on  this  earth  by  his  dis- 
obedience to  God,  and  on  this  earth  God  will  keep  him 
until  he  is  brought  back  to  the  condition  God  created 
him  in.  Man  must  be  cleansed  from  the  power  of 
original  sin,  the  one  sin  that  holds  man  in  Satan's 
power.  But  that  cannot  be  done  with  the  body  in 
the  grave,  the  soul  in  Purgatory,  and  the  spirit  some- 
where else.  No,  dear  reader,  every  spirit,  soul  and 
body  of  the  human  race  must  work  out  its  own  salvation, 
amidst  the  trials,  worries,  and  temptations  of  the 
world,  and  here  they  have  to  overcome  all  the  powers 
of  Satan  as  Christ  did  before  man's  soul  will  be  redeemed. 

Now  what  does  the  redemption  of  man's  soul  mean 
to  man,  it  means  everlasting  continuance  of  man  in 


216  The  Spirit  Father 

his  human  state  after  the  judgment,  the  spiritualized 
man  in  human  form,  and  he  will  never  more  taste  of 
death,  that  will  be  all  that  will  be  redeemed  through 
Christ.  And  all  those  that  will  not  accept  their  redemp- 
tion through  Christ  and  work  out  their  own  salvation, 
but  are  willing  to  remain  in  the  power  and  service  of 
Satan  will,  at  the  judgment,  return  to  the  original 
state  they  were  in  before  God  created  man  in  his  own 
image.  They  will  be  clothed  again  in  their  original 
garments,  and  be  sent  to  begin  their  everlasting  life 
in  the  place  God  has  prepared  for  them  in  their  unclean 
state,  and  ^\^th  Satan  their  ruler  and  king.  Their 
torment  \vill  be  that  they  will  have  a  perfect  conscious- 
ness of  their  own  condition,  and  what  they  have  lost 
by  refusing  the  offered  grace  of  God. 

When  they  were  in  their  original  state  they  had  no 
consciousness  of  being  in  any  other  state,  so  they  were 
content  and  happy.  But  they  will  never  know  one 
hour's  happiness  when  they  arc  returned  to  that  state 
again,  for  they  will  see  and  know  their  own  condition, 
and  they  will  know  they  will  never  have  a  change. 
They  have  slighted  God's  mercy  and  love  to  them,  till 
their  day  of  mercy  is  past,  and  two  words  will  be  forever 
ringing  in  their  ears — too  late.  Oh,  how  simple  the 
little  words,  but  how  mighty  when  it  is  the  cry  of  a  lost 
soul.  For  between  the  clean  and  the  unclean  there 
will  be  a  perfect  and  complete  separation.  That  is 
the  gulf  spoken  of  in  the  new  covenant — between  the 
rich  man  and  Lazarus,  and  the  weeping  and  gnashing 
of  teeth  we  read  of  will  be  the  consciousness  of  man 
that  he  brought  liimself  to  that  condition  by  his  own 


The  Father's  Promises  217 

free  will.  Not  by  God's  wish,  for  God  is  love  and 
justice,  and  opened  a  way  for  every  creature  on  earth 
that  had  ever  been  clothed  in  human  garments,  to  save 
their  own  soul  if  they  would  seek  the  way  and  when 
they  find  the  way  follow  on.  But  how  many  know 
the  way,  and  they  just  stand  still,  and  do  not  walk 
in  it.  When  God's  appointed  day  comes,  and  that 
day  is  drawing  nearer  every  hour,  then  every  one  will 
know  the  justice  of  God,  when  their  past  Hfe,  is  laid  out 
before  them,  with  no  forgiveness  marked  beside  their 
past,  for  they  never  sought  it  in  true  repentance  when 
they  could  have  gotten  it,  and  at  that  day,  no  matter 
how  they  may  seek  it,  they  will  be  like  Esau,  they  will 
have  sold  their  birthright.  And,  although  they  seek 
it  in  sorrow  and  tears,  they  will  find  no  place  for  repent- 
ance, their  repentance  has  come  too  late.  God's  day 
of  mercy  will  be  past.  They  will  not  be  standing 
at  the  judgment  seat  to  receive  forgiveness,  but  to 
hear  their  sentence,  and  they  will  know  their  sentence 
is  irrevocable.  Many  may  be  like  Cain,  when  God 
told  him  what  his  punishment  would  be,  he  cried,  O, 
God,  it  is  more  than  I  can  bear,  but  that  did  not  save 
Cain,  for  he  disobeyed  after  God  told  him  what  to  do. 
And  it  will  be  the  same  with  all  unsaved  at  the  judgment. 
For  there  will  be  no  one  there,  but  will  have  heard  God's 
command,  given  through  Christ,  to  repent  and  obey. 
God  has  ways  and  means  that  not  one  human  creature 
will  be  left  in  ignorance  of  God's  offer  of  reconciliation 
to  his  cast  off  children  if  they  repent,  seek  forgiveness, 
and  obey. 

So,  dear  reader,  embrace  the  opportunity  to-day, 


218  The  Spirit  Father 

to-morrow  it  may  be  too  late.  You  may  only  be  one  of 
the  careless  ones  putting  off  for  another  day  what  you 
should  do  to-day.  How  many  think,  because  they 
read  those  promises  in  the  Old  Testament,  that  they 
have  all  been  fulfilled  in  another  age,  or  were  all  done 
away  with  when  Christ  came. 

But  that  is  where  we  have  been  blinded,  for  they  had 
all  to  be  fulfilled  between  the  time  God  made  the  new 
covenant  in  Christ,  and  Christ's  coming  again,  to  take 
up  his  reign  as  King  and  Ruler  of  the  universe,  under  God. 
The  city  of  David  has  to  be  rebuilt,  Jerusalem  restored, 
and  evil  subdued,  and  the  world,  the  great  garden  of 
Go5  to  be  cleansed.  All  the  rubbish  and  filth  has  to  be 
gathered  out  and  burned  up  by  the  fire  of  the  spirit, 
— the  word  of  God.  Let  us  get  the  filth  and  rubbish 
cleaned  out  of  the  churches  that  are  scattered  through 
the  garden,  for  it  is  withering  up  the  trees  and  the  young 
blossoms,  and  turning  them  into  dried  roots,  but  God 
will  send  out  gardeners  to  clean  up,  and  water  again 
with  the  living  word;  and,  as  it  is  done,  bit  by  bit,  the 
young  blossoms  will  spring  up  in  all  their  freshness,  and 
the  old  roots  will  take  on  new  life.  For  God  promises 
to  raise  up  teachers  and  pastors  according  to  his  own 
heart,  that  will  feed  his  people  with  knowledge  and 
understanding,  and  he  will  restore  health  to  his  people, 
and  heal  them  of  all  their  diseases.  All  these  promises 
come  to  the  human  race,  in  fulfillment  of  the  first 
promise  God  made  to  man  after  he  fell:  that  he  would, 
from  the  seed  of  woman,  bring  the  instrument  that 
would  subdue  the  power  of  Satan.  And  every  promise 
God  has  made  to  man,  has  been  through  Christ,  and 


The  Father's  Promises  Sid 

when  God  sent  him  to  the  earth  it  was  to  fulfill  the 
promises  made  under  the  old  covenant,  and  to  make 
new  promises  and  give  new  covenants,  and  give  new 
commands  under  the  new  covenant.  No  human  man 
that  has  dwelt  on  the  earth  since  Christ's  time  had  any 
permission  or  power  to  make  any  promises  or  commands 
except  those  that  were  given  to  Christ.  All  men's 
work  on  earth  for  the  helping  forward  of  God's  plan 
in  the  winning  of  souls  out  of  Satan's  power  must  be 
done  under  the  commands  of  the  Master  (Christ). 
God  may  choose  and  prepare  many  special  instruments, 
at  special  times,  in  the  advancing  of  his  plan,  but  all 
the  work  must  be  done  under  Christ  and  from  Christ's 
teachings.  But  not  since  the  apostles  time  has  the 
fullness  of  Christ's  teachings  been  taught.  But  God 
will  prepare  and  send  apostles  again,  for  they  must 
come  before  Christ's  work  can  be  fully  accomplished 
on  earth.  We  must  have  men  with  their  understanding 
opened,  that  can  teach  like  the  great  Apostle  Paul, 
that  men  that  have  wives  should  be  as  if  they  had  no 
wives,  and  to  keep  the  marriage  bed  undefiled.  And 
they  must  understand  Christ's  teaching,  that  in  the 
resurrection  there  is  neither  marriage  nor  giving  in 
marriage.  But  that  after  the  marriage  ceremony  is 
gone  through,  according  to  the  law  of  the  nation  they 
live  in,  they  must  live  as  pure  as  the  angels  in  heaven, 
all  this  has  to  take  place  between  the  first  and  second 
resurrection.  And  the  first  resurrection  is  a  symbolic 
death  and  resurrection,  and  takes  place  when  man  goes 
under  the  baptismal  waters.  That  symboUzes  the 
death  of  the  natural  man,  also  the  death  of  the  natural 


220  The  Spirit  Father 

law,  and  the  death  of  the  animal  life  (in  man). 
A  complete  death  to  the  old  covenant.  And  when 
man  arises  from  the  water,  it  symbolizes  the  resurrection 
of  the  spiritual  man,  the  spiritual  law,  and  the  spiritual 
life.  It  symbolizes  both  the  baptism  of  John,  and  the 
baptism  of  Christ,  in  one  the  going  out  of  the  old 
covenant,  and  in  the  other,  the  coming  in  of  the  new. 
All  that  came  into  the  new  covenant  from  the  old,  was 
the  ten  commandments,  and  God  gave  the  eleventh 
through  Christ,  that  overshadowed  all  the  other  com- 
mandments; "Love  one  another,  as  I  have  loved  you." 
Christ  meant  that  the  natural  and  spiritual  man  was 
to  dwell  in  the  one  body  in  love  and  unity,  they  were 
to  love  each  other  beyond  the  love  of  woman. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  FATHER  SPEAKING  TO  HIS   DISOBEDIENT  CHILDREN. 

"My  children,  I  have  nourished  you  and  brought 
you  up,  and  you  rebelled  against  me :  What  is  the  good 
of  your  burnt  offering  unto  rae?  Bring  no  more  vain 
oblations,  your  incense  is  an  abomination  unto  me;  and 
the  calling  of  your  assembUes  I  cannot  bear;  away 
with  them  and  your  appointed  feasts,  I  am  weary  of 
them. 

"When  you  spread  forth  your  hands  I  will  hide  my 
eyes  from  you,  and  although  you  make  many  prayers, 
I  will  not  hear  you;  for  your  hands  are  not  clean.  But 
if  you  will  wash  and  be  clean  and  turn  away  from 
doing  evil  and  learn  to  do  good,  and  follow  after  that 
which  is  right;  although  your  sins  be  many,  I  will 
forgive  them  and  make  you  clean  and  pure.  If  you  are 
willing  and  obedient  children  you  shall  have  all  the 
good  things  I  have  promised  you;  but  if  you  refuse  to 
obey  I  will  cast  you  off.' 

O,  dear  reader,  let  us  think  for  a  moment  what  it 
would  be  to  us,  if  v/e  had  a  good,  kind,  human  father 
living  here  with  us,  and  that  father  had  brought  us  up 
from  our  infancy  and  childhood  to  manhood  and 
womanhood,  and  had  given  us  all  the  love  and  care  that 
a  good  father  could  bestow  on  his  children,  he  having  a 
large  family,  and  as  they  grew  up  their  father  let  them 

221 


222  The  Spirit  Father 

go  out  into  the  world,  one  by  one,  but  still  expecting 
them  to  be  obedient  to  their  father's  commands  and 
wishes;  but  instead  of  doing  that,  many  of  them  turned 
away  after  the  desires  of  their  own  heart  and  fell  into 
evil  ways  and  sin,  and  forgot  the  commands  and  wishes 
of  their  father.  Many  even  forget  they  had  a  father 
living.  But  the  father  never  forgets  he  has  sons  some- 
where in  the  world,  and  when  he  hears  of  their  evil 
lives  his  heart  is  nearly  broken,  and  if  he  cannot  go 
himself  to  bring  them  back,  he  will  send  them  a  letter 
asking  them  to  give  up  their  evil  lives  and  come  back 
to  him;  and  he  will  forgive  them  and  take  them  back 
into  his  home  again;  and  if  they  do  not  come  he  will 
send  some  one  if  he  can  to  plead  with  them,  and  try 
to  persuade  them  to  come  back,  then  if  they  do  not 
come,  how  that  loving  father's  heart  will  be  grieved. 
But  a  father's  love  is  hard  to  kill,  he  sends  again  and 
again  until  he  knows  it  is  no  use,  and  he  has  to  cast 
them  off.  No  matter  how  much  it  may  grieve  him, 
or  break  his  heart,  they  will  not  harken  to  him,  or  give 
up  their  evil  ways.  They  go  on  in  their  careless  life, 
many  forget  they  have  a  father  until  some  day  something 
will  happen  that  will  bring  their  father  to  their  remem- 
brance, and  they  say,  ''I  will  go  back  to  my  father  and 
ask  his  forgiveness;  but  when  they  reach  home  it  is 
only  to  find  that  they  are  too  late.  Their  father  has 
been  taken  away  from  his  earthly  home,  and  the  cry 
of  their  heart  all  the  rest  of  their  days  will  be:  "I 
was  too  late  to  get  my  father's  forgiveness,  too  late, 
too  late." 

Only  two  words,  but  they  have  such  a  depth  of 


The  Fathei^  Speaking  223 

meaning!  Dear  reader,  that  is  just  what  we  find 
through  all  the  Bible  teachings,  we  first  find  God,  our 
spirit  father,  letting  his  children  out  into  the  world, 
giving  them  his  commands,  and  telling  them  what 
he  wishes  them  to  do.  He  pleaded  with  them,  and 
sent  messengers  to  try  and  persuade  them  to  do  his 
will  but  they  would  not.  Then  he  sent  Moses  to  lead 
them  back  to  him.  You  can  read  throughout  all  the 
Old  Testament,  from  the  time  God  sent  Moses,  that  he 
kept  on  pleading  with  them,  and  sent  messenger  after 
messenger  to  them.  Prophets  and  priest  pleaded, 
threatened  and  punished  them,  till  we  read  in  "Malachi" 
the  last  book  in  the  Old  Testament,  that  the  shepherds, 
prophets  and  priests  were  found  by  our  father  to  be 
unfaithful  servants;  and  he  said,  he  would  cleanse 
them  out  of  the  land  and  smite  the  unfaithful  shepherd 
and  let  his  sheep  be  scattered.  And  he  would  gather 
them  in  again  by  sending  a  true  shepherd  after  them. 
That  was  Christ,  our  promised  Savior!  Our  father 
cast  off  his  disobedient  children  for  nearly  four  hundred 
years,  without  a  letter  or  messenger  to  them,  as  far 
as  we  know.  Four  hundred  years  seem  a  long  time  to 
us,  but  a  thousand  years  in  God's  sight  are  as  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye. 

But  how  that  loving  father's  heart  must  have 
filled  with  sorrow  to  see  the  children  he  loved,  living 
lives  of  corruption. 

All  God's  time  has  to  be  filled!  God  has  his  time 
for  the  fulfillment  of  all  his  prophecies  and  promises, 
and  the  time  must  be  fulfilled  before  he  will  begin 
his  w^ork. 


224  The  Spirit  Father 

The  day  came  when  he  said  he  would  send  the  prom- 
ised blessing  to  those  that  woukl  accept  it;  but  he  said 
he  would  first  send  his  messenger  to  prepare  the  way; 
and  warn  his  children  to  repent  and  be  ready  to  follow 
their  Savior  when  he  came  to  them. 

Now  let  us  look  at  the  last  promises  God  made  under 
the  old  covenant,  for  they  throw  light  on  past,  present, 
and  future.  I  \nll  interpret  them  as  they  have  been 
interpreted  to  me. 

I  take  now  from  the  third  chapter  of  Malachi  this, 
we  believe,  was  God's  message  through  the  last  prophet 
in  the  old  covenant.  He  said  God  would  send  his 
messenger  to  prepare  the  way.  That  was  John  the 
Baptist.  He  was  only  to  prepare  for  the  coming  of 
the  covenant  messenger.  That  was  Christ!  Who 
among  them  would  be  able  to  stand  the  refining  fire 
he  would  put  them  through?  He  was  coming  to  purge 
them  and  purify  them  and  bring  them  out  as  pure  as 
gold. 

Now  let  us  understand  that  forgiving  a  sin,  and 
purging  a  sin,  is  very  different.  There  is  one  sin  that 
God  cannot  forgive,  the  hereditary  sin  (Original  sin). 
It  is  in  the  flesh  and  has  to  be  purged  out  of  man  by 
the  power  of  the  spirit  seed.  All  other  sins  God  can 
forgive  in  a  moment  as  soon  as  the  sinner  repents  and 
asks  forgiveness.  Then  he  says  because  he  is  God  and 
never  changes,  he  has  kept  his  covenants  with  them, 
or  they  would  have  been  condemned  long  ago. 

At  this  time  nearly  all  God's  people,  (with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  remnant  God  has  kept  out  of  Satan's  power) 
had  turned  away  from  him,  and  were  all  in  the  power 


The  Father  Speaking  225 

and  service  of  Satan.  God  sent  them  word  if  they 
would  return  unto  him  he  would  return  to  them, 
that  was  he  would  take  them  back. 

He  asked  them  why  they  robbed  God;  he  said  the 
whole  nation  had  robbed  him;  and  the  people  asked 
what  they  had  robbed  him  of,  if  it  was  in  their  tithes 
and  offerings?  they  knew  they  had  not  robbed  him 
in  their  temporal  offerings  or  tithes,  for  they  brought 
plenty  of  them,  we  have  only  to  read  their  life  to  know 
that.  But  God  said,  the  whole  nation  was  lying  under 
a  curse  for  robbing  him.  They  had  robbed  God  of 
their  spirit,  soul,  and  body.  For,  with  few  exceptions, 
the  whole  nation  belonged  to  Satan.  Then  he  tells 
them  to  bring  all  their  tithes  into  the  storehouse,  that 
there  might  be  meat  in  the  Lord's  house.  He  tells 
them  that  if  they  do  this  he  will  pour  blessings  on  them, 
more  than  they  would  have  room  to  receive,  and  that 
the  power  of  Satan  would  be  broken  over  all  their 
possessions. 

Now,  what  is  it  God  wants  us  to  give  him  for  all  those 
blessings  he  is  promising?  All  he  asks  is  that  they  may 
bring  in  tithes  into  his  storehouse  that  there  might  be 
plenty  of  meat.  Now  we  must  find  out  what  kind  of 
meat  he  wants,  and  where  his  storehouse  is. 

The  meat  he  wants  is  the  human  flesh,  it  has  all  been 
taken  away  from  God  and  given  into  the  hands  of 
Satan;  and  God  asks  them  to  return  it  to  him,  and  he 
will  cleanse  it,  and  purge  it,  and  make  the  human  man 
the  delight  of  all  nations.  Then,  when  he  has  all  the 
flesh  all  cleansed  and  purified,  he  says  they  will  be 
his  at  the  day  when  he  is  gathering  in  his  jewels  and  he 


226  The  Spirit  Father 

will  spare  them  as  his  own  children.  Then  they  will 
be  able  to  discern  between  good  and  bad. 

Now  we  must  find  what  the  storehouse  is,  and  where 
to  find  it,  that  we  may  bring  all  the  meat, — the  human 
flesh, — into  it. 

And  then  we  ought  to  know  who  is  the  keeper  of  this 
storehouse.  Well,  the  keeper  is  Christ,  the  shepherd, 
and  the  storehouse  is  the  fold.  The  sheep  is  the  meat, 
and  it  has  to  be  kept  in  the  storehouse,  the  fold, 
until  it  is  cleansed  and  dressed  and  gotten  ready  for 
the  father's  home. 

None  of  these  lessons  are  on  temporal  things,  they 
are  too  serious  a  matter  to  be  given  in  reference  to 
temporal  things. 

Then  the  last  promise  is,  that  if  they  wiW  do  all  these 
things,  the  sun  of  righteousness  will  arise  on  them  and 
they  will  be  healed  and  cleansed  of  every  impurity. 

Then  he  says,  when  they  are  all  brought  to  that 
condition  they  wall  grow  up  as  calves  of  the  stall,  that 
means  they  will  be  of  pure  blood.  The  animal  blood 
and  seed  will  be  completely  cleansed  from  their  blood. 
He  says,  when  they  are  brought  to  that  condition, 
they  will  be  able  to  put  down  the  wicked. 

And  again  he  says,  they  were  to  remember  the  law, 
commands  and  statutes  that  God  gave  to  Moses  for 
them  in  Horeb,  and  also  the  judgments.  This  is  not 
in  reference  to  the  law  of  Moses,  but  in  reference  to  the 
law  of  God  and  the  ten  commandments,  given  from  God 
in  Horeb,  to  be  delivered  to  the  children  of  Israel. 
You  will  find  them  in  their  fullness  in  the  fourth  chapter 
of  Deuteronomy,  the  first  ten  verses. 


The  Father  Speaking  227 

Then  the  old  covenant  finishes  with  the  promise 
that  EHjah  the  prophet,  would  come  before  the  great 
and  dreadful  day  of  the  Lord. 

"In  all  the  years  gone  by  I  always  looked  forward 
to  'that  day'  as  the  judgment  day.  But  from  the 
revelation  I  have  had  for  the  writing  of  this  book,  I 
believe  the  great  and  dreadful  day  is  past.  I  believe 
the  most  dreadful  day  that  has  ever  been  on  earth, 
or  ever  will  be,  was  the  day  Christ  was  crucified,  when 
the  earth  was  covered  with  darkness,  and  the  veil  of 
the  temple  was  rent  from  top  to  bottom,  and  the  earth 
shook,  and  the  rocks  rent,  and  the  graves  were  opened, 
and  the  dead  arose. 

The  most  dreadful  of  all  that  happened  on  that  day, 
— he  sealed  the  doom  of  every  human  creature  on  earth 
at  that  time,  and  every  one  that  has  come  on  earth 
from  that  day  till  God  calls  the  judgment.  For  the 
promises  of  God  and  the  doom  that  awaits  man  were 
sealed  in  that  hour,  with  the  blood  of  Christ.  That  was 
the  great  and  dreadful  day.  The  judgment  day  can 
be  nothing  to  that  day;  for  at  the  judgment  man  will 
only  receive  the  sentence  of  the  doom  that  was  pro- 
nounced on  him  that  day. 

Everlasting  spiritual  life,  or  everlasting  spiritual 
death,  was  the  doom  of  all  the  human  race  from  that 
hour. 

And  the  man  or  woman  that  lives,  day  by  day,  in  an 
unsaved  state,  is  living  under  that  sentence  just  as 
sure  as  if  they  heard  it  pronounced  at  the  judgment 
seat.  0,  dear  reader,  are  you  living  under  your  sentence 
as  one  of  the  saved  or  unsaved?    Ask  your  own  heart. 


228  The  Spirit  Father 

Now,  before  I  close  on  the  old  Bible  teachings,  I 
will  say,  1  do  not  think  many  understand  what  people 
were  God's  reserved  people,  and  how  God,  amidst  all 
the  old  covenant  life,  was  able  to  keep  any  of  his  people 
pure  and  in  their  virgin  state.  We  are  told  that  God 
had  a  hundred  and  forty  and  four  thousand  who  had 
never  defiled  themselves  with  women.  Those,  I  believe, 
were  the  eunuchs.  God  said  they  were  not  to  be 
called  dry  trees,  for  if  they  did  the  things  that  pleased 
God,  they  would  have  a  better  place  in  God's  house 
than  even  his  sons  and  daughters,  and  they  would  have 
an  everlasting  name.  Then  we  read  in  Revelation 
that  it  was  those  that  followed  Christ  wherever  he 
went  and  were  the  first  redeemed  among  men.  We 
see  by  God  clothing  his  spirit  children  in  the  garments 
of  the  eunuch,  he  put  it  out  of  Satan's  power  to  bring 
them  to  bend  their  knee  to  Baal  in  the  act  of  the  original 
sin.  God  can  find  plenty  ways  and  means  of  keeping 
his  children  out  of  Satan's  power  if  they  are  willing 
to  obey  and  trust  him.  There  are  three  kinds  of 
unuchs  spoken  of.  First.  The  eunuchs  made  eu- 
enuchs  of  God,  then  the  eunuchs  that  keep  their 
virginity  for  their  love  of  God  and  Christ.  These  are 
the  most  pleasing  to  God.  Then  the  eunuchs  that  are 
made  so  by  the  hand  of  man,  these  are  an  abomination 
in  the  sight  of  God.  They  have  defiled  their  own 
flesh  through  the  power  of  the  lust,  until  they  be  come 
into  a  condition  that  their  fruitful  members  have  been 
destroyed,  either  by  their  own  hands  in  the  use  of 
medicaments,  or  by  the  knife  in  the  hands  of  the  doctor. 
They  are  the  one  abomination  in  the  sight  of  God. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

GOD  THE  father's  FIRST  PROMISE  TO  MAN. 

The  time  came  for  the  fulfillment  of  our  father's 
first  promise  to  Adam. 

When  God  sent  him  from  his  presence  for  disobedi- 
ence, he  promised  he  would  use  the  seed  of  woman, 
and  by  the  word  of  his  power,  he  would  prepare  the 
human  garment  for  another  son,  that  would  be  obedi- 
ent, and  through  that  obedience  he  would  conquer 
Satan,  sin,  disease  and  death.  But  that  obedience 
had  to  be  given  voluntarily.  No  compulsion  from 
the  father  was  laid  on  Jesus,  the  begotten  son,  more 
than  was  laid  on  Adam,  the  created  son. 

Each  knew  the  father's  commands  and  will,  and 
that  the  father  expected  a  free-will  obedience. 

The  lesson  on  Adam's  life  is  a  symbolic  lesson  to  all 
ages.  God  creating  Adam,  and  the  sleep  falling  on 
him,  represents  Adam's  childhood.  Then  when  he  came 
to  the  age  capable  of  needing  a  companion  and  help- 
mate, his  father  provided  him  one.  Then  in  place  of 
him  beginning  his  life  with  his  companion  and  helpmate 
from  the  spiritual  side  of  his  life,  as  the  father  created 
him  to  do,  he  began  his  life  from  the  natural  or  animal 
side  of  his  life,  in  disobedience  to  his  God  and  father. 
And  by  doing  so  brought  disease,  destruction  and 
death  on  himself  and  all  the  human  race  that  followed 
his  example. 

229 


230  The  Spirit  Father 

Then  the  lesson  on  the  life  of  the  begotten  son  Jesus, 
is  a  symbolic  lesson  to  all  ages.  It  shows  us  Jesus 
living  in  his  childhood,  in  the  home  of  his  parents,  amidst 
temptations  and  trials  of  daily  life,  in  obedience  to  his 
parents  until  he  grew  to  his  maturity.  Then  he  goes 
to  the  river  Jordan,  and  symbolizes  the  death  of  his 
natural  life.  And  rises  up  to  live  for  tke  spiritual 
side  of  life,  in  obedience  to  God,  and  by  so  doing  he 
conquered  all  the  power  of  Satan,  sin,  disease  and 
death. 

And  from  Adam's  time,  through  all  ages,  God  will 
not  accept  anything  from  his  children  that  is  not  a 
voluntary  free-will  offering,  neither  in  spiritual  nor 
temporal  things.  Thousand  of  people,  by  their  social 
standing  or  by  their  wealth,  may  feel  called  upon  to 
give  large  amounts,  and  it  may  be  very  acceptable 
to  the  people,  the  work,  or  institutions  they  give 
it  to  (even  if  they  know  the  party  has  given  to  keep 
their  standing  with  some  set  or  party). 

But  all  we  give  or  do  in  that  way  is  not  a  free-will 
offering  to  God,  and  mil  count  for  nothing  before  liim, 
whatever  it  may  count  before  the  world. 

The  time  came  for  the  father  to  prepare  for  the 
fulfillment  of  his  promise.  How  did  he  begin  the 
preparation?  By  first  finding  the  instrument  he  was 
going  to  use. 

The  first  two  were  Zacharias  and  his  wife  Elizabeth, 
they  were  both  righteous  before  God,  keeping  all  the 
commandments  and  ordinances  of  their  father,  and 
living  blameless  lives  before  him.  They  were  both 
old  and  had  no  children,  for  Elizabeth  was  barren. 


God  the  Father's  First  Promise  231 

But  God  needed  a  human  garment,  and  he  was 
going  to  use  the  barren  soil  to  grow  the  fruit.  He 
sent  a  messenger  to  tell  Zacharias  that  Elizabeth 
would  bear  a  son  and  he  was  to  be  called  John.  And 
that  many  would  rejoice  at  his  birth,  for  he  would  be 
great  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord. 

He  was  to  prepare  and  get  ready  all  things  for  the 
coming  of  the  new  covenant  messenger,  Christ.  Christ 
was  coming  to  begin  the  restoration  of  all  things  back 
to  the  father,  all  that  the  father  wished  restored  to  him. 
They  may  look  very  little  things  to  us  from  our 
limited  knowledge  of  God,  and  his  thousands  of  years 
of  patience  and  work  to  redeem  the  human  race  from 
Satan's  power,  before  the  appointed  time  for  the  final 
settlement  between  Christ's  work  and  Satan's.  Al- 
though we  poor  mortals  do  not  know  or  understand 
these  things  both  Christ  and  Satan  know. 

God  has  set  a  day  and  hour  for  giving  them  both 
their  inheritance. 

Satan  was  not  satisfied  with  his  own  dominion,  crept 
into  the  garden  of  Eden,  and  stole  what  belonged  to 
God — his  first  son,  created  in  his  own  image — and 
from  that  day  he  kept  on  taking  possession  of  what 
belonged  to  God  until  he  had  usurped  all  the  rights  of 
God  on  earth.  And  God  let  him  have  full  sway  for 
four  hundred  years,  until  the  whole  creation  was 
groaning  in  darkness,  corruption  and  sin,  and  sitting 
under  the  shadow  of  death 

That  was  the  condition  the  world  and  people  were 
in  after  Satan  had  been  left  to  rule  four  hundred  years. 
Then,  God  in  his  mercy  to  his  creatures,  began  preparing 


232  The  Spirit  Father 

the  way  for  their  hberation,  and  the  restoring  of  all 
again  back  to  his  own  possession. 

Now  what  did  Christ  come  to  restore?  Not  silver 
or  gold;  dollars  or  cents.  But  the  spirit,  soul,  and 
body  of  man.  Heaven,  earth,  and  man  must  be 
restored  to  their  original  state.  (I  do  not  speak  of 
woman,  for  whenever  man  is  restored,  woman  will 
be  also).  Man  must  be  the  first  to  be  restored,  before 
heaven  or  earth  can  be  restored. 

But  the  time  was  coming  when  the  battle  was  to 
begin  for  the  restoring  of  all  God's  possessions,  and 
that  was  to  be  all  done  through  and  under  his  beloved 
son,  Jesus. 

After  the  messenger  had  told  Zacharias  what  was 
to  happen,  he  was  doubtful  and  asked  how  he  was 
to  know  what  he  had  heard  was  true,  for  he  was  an  old 
man  and  his  wife  was  old  also.  The  messenger  said 
that  he  was  sent  from  the  presence  of  God  to  speak 
these  words  to  him,  and  because  he  had  not  believed 
what  he  had  told  him,  he  would  be  dumb  until  the 
fulfillment  of  these  things. 

Zacharias  was  a  priest,  and  at  the  time  the  angel 
appeared  he  was  in  the  temple  performing  his  duties; 
and  the  people  who  were  waiting  for  him  wondered 
why  he  stayed  so  long  in  the  temple.  But  when  he 
came  out  he  could  not  speak,  and  they  knew  he  had 
seen  a  vision,  for  he  beckoned  to  them  and  remained 
speechless. 

The  people  of  that  generation  understood  those  things 
it  was  nothing  strange  for  them  to  know  that  God  had 
spoken  to  his  true  servants,  prophets  and  priests,  by 


God  the  Father's  First  Promise  233 

sending  angel  messengers,  visions,  or  dreams.  God 
has  talked  to  his  chosen  servants  in  that  way  through 
all  ages  and  is  doing  so  now.  (There  are  many  of 
God's  chosen  servants  at  the  present  hour  know  that 
what  I  write  is  true.  That  God  holds  communion 
with  them  by  dreams  and  visions,  and  gives  them 
wisdom  and  understanding  to  do  his  work,  and  if  it  is 
done  as  he  wishes,  his  seal  is  put  upon  them,  they  are 
endued  with  the  spirit's  power,  and  God's  blessing  is 
shown  upon  their  work.) 

When  Zacharias  finished  his  ministrations  he  went 
back  to  his  own  home.  Elizabeth  conceived,  and 
when  her  full  time  came  she  was  delivered  of  a  son. 
So  what  Zacharias  thought  was  impossible,  had  been 
fulfilled.  God  had  brought  forth  the  human  garment 
from  the  barren  soil. 

Now,  although  God  was  preparing  his  instruments 
for  the  fulfilling  of  his  promise  in  the  new  covenant, 
he  was  doing  the  preparing  under  the  old  covenant 
laws.  So  when  the  child  was  eight  days  old  they  came 
to  circumcise  him  and  called  him  Zacharias;  but  his 
mother  said,  "No,  he  must  be  called  John." 

They  asked  the  father  what  he  would  have  him 
called,  as  none  of  their  kindred  were  named  John. 
His  father  wrote,  "His  name  is  John."  And  Zacharias' 
mouth  was  opened  immediately,  and  he  gave  praise 
to  God.  He  was  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
prophesied,  "That  the  child  would  be  called  the  prophet 
of  the  Highest  and  would  go  before  the  Lord  to  prepare 
his  way ;  and  to  give  knowledge  of  the  ways  of  salvation 
unto  his  people,  by  the  remission  of  their  sins.     And 


234  The  Spirit  Father 

to  show  the  hght  to  them  that  were  sitting  in  darkness 
and  in  the  shadow  of  death;  and  to  guide  them  into 
the  way  of  peace;  and  to  turn  the  hearts  of  the  dis- 
obedient children  to  see  wisdom  and  justice  in  what 
God  was  going  to  require  of  them,  before  he  could 
begin  the  work  of  restoration,  through  Christ. 

The  people  had  to  be  brought  to  understand  why 
they  had  to  obey  John  and  come  to  the  river  Jordan, 
and  what  was  to  take  place  there;  what  that  ceremony 
was  to  symbolize  to  them  and  all  other  future  genera- 
tions. And  all  who  came  and  willingly  received  their 
baptism,  received  a  full  and  free  forgiveness  of  all  their 
past  sins,  and  had  to  begin  a  new  life  from  that  day. 

Our  father,  I  believe,  is  looking  down  on  this  world 
to-day,  and  his  heart  is  in  grief  and  sorrow  over  the 
condition  of  his  children,  for  the  majority  of  them 
are  now  sitting  in  the  darkness  and  under  the  shadow 
of  death,  and  they  do  not  seem  to  know  it.  May  their 
eyes  be  opened. 

John  grew  up  strong  in  spirit,  and  was  sent  away 
into  the  deserts  until  God  would  require  him  for  the 
work  he  was  preparing  him  for. 

This  was  the  first  instrument  made  ready  when 
God  was  ready  to  use  it.  But  the  chief  instrument 
had  to  be  prepared. 

Six  months  after  the  messenger  to  Zacharias,  the 
same  messenger  was  sent  again  with  another  message. 
This  time  to  a  virgin  named  IMary,  who  was  espoused 
to  a  man  named  Joseph.  Theywcrc  both  descendants 
of  the  royal  house  of  David.  The  angel  went  to  Mary 
and  said  unto  her,  "Hail,  thou  art  highly  favored,  the 


God  the  Father's  First  Promise  235 

Lord  is  with  thee.  Blessed  art  thou  among  women." 
And  when  she  heard  him  she  was  troubled,  and 
wondered  what  he  could  mean,  but  he  said,  "Fear  not, 
Mary,  for  thou  hast  found  favor  with  God."  That 
is  a  lesson  for  all.  She  had  found  favor  with  God  by 
her  obedient,  pure  and  holy  life,  and  he  was  going  to 
use  her  in  his  service.  That  is  what  we  have  all  to 
find,  favor  with  God,  before  he  will  use  any  one  in  a 
special  work,  they  have  to  be  a  dutiful  child. 

The  messenger  said,  "Thou  hast  found  favor,  Mary, 
and  thou  shalt  conceive  in  thy  womb,  and  shalt  bring 
forth  a  son,  and  shalt  call  his  name  Jesus.  He  shall 
be  great,  and  shall  be  called  the  son  of  the  Highest. 
Mary  thought  that  very  strange,  and  said,  "How  can 
this  be,  seeing  I  know  not  a  man?"  The  angel  answered 
her.  "The  Holy  Ghost  shall  come  upon  thee,  and  the 
power  of  the  highest  shall  overshadow;  therefore,  also, 
that  holy  thing  that  shall  be  born  of  thee  shall  be 
called  the  son  of  God,  for  nothing  is  impossible  with 
God." 

We  hear  many  remarks  made  on  the  miraculous 
conception  of  Jesus,  and  many  remarks  not  creditable 
to  write  here.  But  just  look  at  the  two  messages  that 
were  sent  from  God,  and  see  if  there  is  anything  more 
miraculous  in  the  one  than  the  other.  One  was  to  an 
old  man  and  a  barren  woman,  that  was,  by  her  age, 
long  past  the  age  of  child  bearing.  Is  it  not  as  marvel- 
ous to  read  of  the  old  aged  woman  and  the  barren  womb 
bringing  forth  fruit  at  the  command  of  God,  as  it  is  to 
read  of  the  virgin  woman  and  the  virgin  womb  bringing 
forth  fruit?     It  seems  to  be  something  wonderful  and 


236  The  Spirit  Father 

past  our  human  understanding  when  we  can  only  read 
and  see  with  human  eyes.  But  the  moment  our  under- 
standing is  opened  by  the  spirit's  power,  we  read  and 
see  with  spiritual  light,  then  we  do  not  only  read,  but 
we  see  and  understand  the  divine  teaching,  for  we  are 
taught  then  of  God,  not  of  man. 

God  had  his  own  purposes  in  taking  two  such  dif- 
ferent instruments  to  accomplish  his  work.  The  old 
one,  past  use;  the  other  young  and  had  never  been 
in  use. 

The  typical  lesson  we  get  from  this  is  to  show  us 
that  nothing  is  impossible  for  God  to  do;  and  that  by 
the  word  of  his  power,  he  can  make  all  old  things  new; 
and  to  show  to  all  generations,  by  the  bringing  forth 
of  Jesus  from  the  virgin  womb,  the  first  son  of  the  new 
covenant,  by  the  word  of  his  power,  what  was  God's 
will  and  way  of  bringing  forth  all  human  fruit  from 
the  creation  of  man,  if  man  had  not  fallen. 

The  birth  of  Jesus,  by  the  power  of  the  word  of  God, 
shows  that  God  needed  no  help  from  man  to  prepare 
his  human  garments.  And  our  spirit  father  will  take 
all  that  power  to  himself  again,  when  the  proper  time 
comes,  for  the  father  will  lift  his  redeemed  children, 
both  sons  and  daughters,  from  the  degrading  level  of 
the  beast. 

The  reader  may  think  that  will  only  be  when  we 
leave  this  earthly  life,  and  get  to  heaven,  but  not  so. 
Earth  is  the  abode  of  man  in  his  human  state,  and  on 
earth  man  has  to  remain,  through  all  the  everlasting 
ages.     All  that  goes  back  to  heaven  is  the  spirits  of  the 


God  the  Father's  First  Promise  237 

redeemed,  to  dwell  there  until  the  judgment,  when 
their  bodies  \n\\\  be  called  forth  to  clothe  the  spirit, 
and  come  to  take  up  their  everlasting  abode  on  earth 
with  Christ. 

All  God's  power  and  glory  \^dll  be  shown  on  earth; 
and  at  the  fulfillment  of  each  period,  some  part  of  the 
prophecies  will  be  fulfilled,  until  all  are  finished.  Many 
are  being  fulfilled  now,  many  of  God's  people  see  them 
but  there  are  many  cannot  see,  for  they  do  not  under- 
stand. "They  have  eyes,  but  they  do  not  see,  and  ears, 
but  they  do  not  hear,"  for  the  devil  has  made  them 
both  blind  and  deaf. 

When  Joseph,  Mary's  husband,  came  to  know  of  her 
condition,  he  thought  he  would  put  her  away  privately 
so  that  the  public  would  not  know.  But  he  soon  found 
out  that  God  does  not  do  things  that  have  to  be  hid, 
the  hidden  things  are  left  for  the  devil  to  do.  While 
Joseph  was  thinking  how  he  could  best  put  her  away 
God  sent  an  angel  to  speak  to  him  in  a  dream,  saying, 
"Joseph,  fear  not  to  take  unto  thee  Mary,  thy  wife, 
for  that  which  is  conceived  in  her,  is  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  she  shall  bring  forth  a  son,  and  thou  shalt  call  his 
name  Jesus."  Joseph  did  as  the  angel  told  him,  and 
took  his  wife,  and  knew  her  not  until  she  had  brought 
forth  her  first  born  son,  Jesus. 

We  see  that  whatever  Joseph  thought  before  God's 
messenger  came  to  him,  he  knew  everything  was  right 
that  the  father  told  him  to  do ;  for  Joseph  knew  all  the 
laws  and  commands  of  God  and  kept  them,  or  God 
would  not  have  chosen  him  to  be  the  protector  and 
caretaker  of  his  son. 


238  The  Spirit  Father 

Just  what  Joseph  was  to  do  for  Jesus,  so  was  Adam 
and  all  mankind  to  do  for  all  the  human  fruit  and  off- 
spring of  God,  protect  and  care  for  them,  and  bring 
up  for  God,  pure  and  good  children  till  they  came  to 
maturity.  They  were  to  be  the  shepherds  over  the 
young  flocks  of  God.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  when  we  look 
around  the  world  our  hearts  cry  out,  "O,  man,  thy 
shameful  downfall,  O,  woman,  thy  lost  estate"? 

When  we  read  some  of  the  literature  sent  out  by 
some  women  of  the  present  day,  referring  to  God's 
promise  that  he  would  use  "the  seed  of  the  woman,  to 
bruise  the  head  of  Satan,"  meant  that  woman  would 
be  the  ruling  power  over  man  by  the  ordination  of  God. 

They  do  not  understand  that  the  first  use  God 
made  of  that  promise  was  to  use  the  seed  of  the  virgin 
to  bring  man  into  the  world  again  as  the  ruling  power 
forever.  And  wherever  woman  tries  to  be  the  ruling 
power,  whether  in  her  private  home  or  in  public  life, 
she  steps  out  of  her  place,  and  loses  her  womanly 
dignity.  Christ,  by  calling  woman  his  sister,  raised 
her  to  be  the  equal  of  man  in  all  things  spiritual,  pure 
and  holy.  And  wherever  you  find  a  true,  pure.  Chris- 
tian woman,  be  she  wife  or  maid,  you  will  never  see  her 
want  to  rule  over  man.  She  has  her  place  and  she 
knows  it,  and  she  will  fill  it  with  dignity,  whether  she 
be  in  the  home  of  a  peasant  or  the  home  of  a  prince. 

The  time  came  when  Joseph  had  to  take  Mary  with 
him  up  to  the  city  of  David  to  be  taxed.  While  there, 
Mary's  time  came  to  be  delivered,  and  she  brought  forth 
her  son.  As  there  was  no  room  for  them  in  the  inn, 
they  had  to  take  shelter  in  a  stable  among  the  cattle. 


God  the  Father's  First  Promise  239 

So  Jesus'  human  birth  took  place  among  the  animals, 
and  his  first  bed  was  in  the  manger.  (Symbohc  of  the 
first  state  of  man.) 

In  this  we  see  God's  foreordained  purpose  that  the 
birth  of  Jesus  should  take  place  there,  to  show  all 
generations,  that  as  far  as  human  birth  is  concerned, 
a  prince  may  be  born  in  a  stable,  as  well  as  in  a  palace; 
for  the  human  flesh  is  only  the  animal  part  of  man, 
and  it  is  only  man's  spiritual  birthright  that  raises 
him  above  the  beast.  But  it  did  not  matter  where 
he  was  born  into  the  world,  for  God  knew  the  moment 
of  his  birth  and  sent  multitudes  of  the  heavenly  hosts 
to  sing  praises  to  his  new  born  son,  until  his  birth 
was  known  throughout  the  land. 

When  the  shepherds  heard  it  they  left  their  flocks, 
and  went  to  Bethlehem  to  see  the  babe,  and  carry 
presents  to  him,  for  there  was  to  be  no  hiding  the  birth 
of  Jesus.  His  birth  was  to  cause  rejoicing  throughout 
the  world. 

All  this  took  place  under  the  laws  of  Moses,  so  when 
the  child  was  eight  days  old,  he  was  circumcised,  and 
given  the  name  the  angel  had  told  Mary  before  he  was 
conceived.  And  when  they  had  performed  all  things 
according  to  the  law,  they  returned  to  their  own  city, 
Nazareth.  "The  child  grew  and  waxed  strong  in 
spirit;  filled  with  wisdom;  and  the  glory  of  God  was 
upon  him." 

We  are  not  told  any  more  of  the  childhood  of  Jesus, 
except  once  when  he  was  twelve  years  old,  his  parents 
took  him  up  to  Jerusalem  to  attend  the  Feast  of  the 
Passover,  and  when  they  had  fulfilled  their  duties, 


240  The  Spirit  Father 

they  started  on  their  homeward  journey.  There  were 
a  great  many  of  their  kinfolks  and  acquaintances  with 
them.  They  all  started  home  together.  Although 
Jesus*  parents  did  not  see  him  when  they  left  Jerusalem, 
they  thought  he  was  among  the  company.  They  travel- 
ed on  the  whole  day,  but  when  they  did  not  see  him 
they  became  alarmed,  and  went  through  all  the  com- 
pany looking  for  him,  but  could  not  find  him. 

They  turned  back  to  Jerusalem  to  search  for  him, 
and  after  three  days  they  found  him  in  the  temple, 
sitting  in  the  midst  of  the  doctors;  hearing  them  and 
asking  them  questions. 

All  that  saw  and  heard  him  were  astonished  at  the 
answers  he  gave,  and  wondered  at  him  understanding 
their  discussions  and  doctrine. 

Was  it  any  wonder  they  were  astonished  when  we 
think  of  a  boy  only  twelve  years  old  going  into  the 
temple,  and  sitting  down  among  the  learned  Rabbis 
and  answering  their  questions  with  spiritual  light. 
When  his  mother  found  him  there,  she  was  amazed, 
and  asked  him  why  he  had  not  gone  on  with  them, 
that  they  had  gone  a  day's  journey  before  they  had 
missed  him;  and  had  sought  him  for  three  days  with 
sorrowful  hearts,  thinking  some  evil  had  befallen  him. 
He  answered,  "Do  you  not  know  I  must  be  about  my 
father's  business?"  Now  Jesus  was  speaking  about 
his  spirit  father. 

But  the  time  had  not  yet  come  for  him  to  be  about 
his  father's  work.  He  was  a  child  and  not  come  to 
years  to  know  properly  what  that  father's  business 
required.     So  he  returned  with  his  mother  and  Joseph, 


God  the  Father's  First  Promise  241 

and  was  subject  unto  them  until  he  grew  to  the  years 
of  his  full  maturity.  He  increased  in  wisdom  and  was 
in  favor  with  both  God  and  man. 

This  is  the  only  mentioning  we  have  of  all  Jesus' 
young  life. 

We  next  hear  of  him  when  he  is  about  thirty  years 
old. 

What  is  the  lesson  we  get  from  this  story  of  Jesus' 
childhood?  When  his  mother  found  him,  he  went 
home  with  them  and  was  subject  to  them,  and  remained 
under  their  authority  until  he  reached  his  full  manhood. 
Until  his  thirtieth  year  when  he  was  able  to  decide 
for  himself  what  life  he  would  choose.  The  time  had 
come  when  God,  his  father,  would  test  him,  before 
he  would  intrust  to  him  the  work  he  had  brought 
him  into  the  world  for. 

Christ  had  that  test  in  the  wilderness  when  Satan 
showed  him  all  the  world,  and  offered  it  to  him  if  he 
would  bow  down  and  worship  him. 

O,  blinded  mortals  that  we  are,  that  do  not  see  how 
this  lesson  applies  to  our  own  life. 

This  lesson  also  shows  plainly  to  all  fathers  and 
mothers  that  they  have  a  perfect  right  to  keep  all  their 
children  under  their  authority  until  they  grow  up  to 
years  of  manhood  and  womanhood  and  to  show  chil- 
dren that  they  ought  to  wiUingly  be  subject  and  obe- 
dient to  their  parents  in  all  things  that  are  right;  until 
they  come  to  the  years  of  maturity  and  understand- 
ing. Then  they  are  supposed  to  be  able  to  decide  for 
themselves.  How  many  sons  think  they  are  able  to 
decide  for  themselves  when  they  are  no  older   than 


242  The  Spirit  Father 

twelve  years,  and  think  they  are  able  to  do  as  they 
please. 

The  bringing  of  Jesus  before  us  at  that  age  is  for 
a  typical  lesson  to  all  generations. 

God  has  now  both  of  his  instruments  ready  for  the 
beginning  of  his  work  under  the  new  covenant. 

John  was  in  the  deserts  gro\ving  strong  in  spirit,  and 
being  made  ready  for  the  great  work  he  was  soon  to  be 
called  for. 

Jesus  was  living  quietly  in  his  home  at  Nazareth, 
working  as  a  carpenter,  it  is  supposed;  helping  Joseph 
and  his  mother,  like  a  good  dutiful  son,  growing  strong 
in  spirit  and  power,  being  prepared  for  the  great  work 
he  was  to  fulfill;  by  living  a  life  of  perfect  obedience 
to  his  human  parents,  he  was  being  prepared  for  a  life 
of  perfect  obedience  to  his  spirit  father,  when  the  time 
came. 

But  John's  work  had  to  be  done  first  before  Jesus 
could  begin. 

All  of  God's  plan  is  being  worked  out  in  perfect  order. 
And  every  specially  called  son  or  servant  of  God  has  to 
do  the  portion  he  is  prepared  for. 

If  he  is  faithful  he  will  finish  the  work  God  has  pre- 
pared him  for,  before  God  will  send  another  special 
servant. 

But  if  he  is  not  faithful  God  will  soon  supersede  that 
work  by  another. 

We  have  that  represented  through  all  the  ages. 

Whenever  we  see  any  spiritual  work  of  God's  come 
to  the  place  where  the  monetary  and  social  side  of  the 


God  the  Father's  First  Promise  243 

work  supervises  the  spiritual  work,  that  work  will  lose 
the  spiritual  power. 

The  work  will  not  die  or  be  removed  from  the  world  ; 
it  will  still  have  its  place,  and  may  go  on  and  do  much 
good;  but  its  spiritual  power  is  broken.  And  God  will 
have  to  prepare  and  raise  up  another  to  carry  forward 
his  plan. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 
John  the  Baptist. 

How  many  of  us,  in  reading  or  speaking  of  John  the 
Baptist,  just  begin  with  him  at  the  River  Jordan!  But 
John  had  done  a  great  deal  of  work  before  he  brought 
the  people  to  the  Jordan  to  obey  God. 

John's  first  work  was  to  promulgate  the  gospels;  that 
is,  he  was  sent  to  give  notice,  or  to  make  known  by  open 
declaration  throughout  all  Judea  and  up  and  down 
through  all  the  country  round  about  Jordan;  to  warn 
the  people  that  God's  time  was  at  hand,  that  he  would 
send  the  promised  Redeemer,  the  Christ,  and  for  all  to 
get  ready  for  his  coming. 

God's  lost  children  were  in  a  terrible  condition  at  that 
time,  living  in  darkness  and  under  the  shadow  of  death; 
God  sent  John  to  speak  comforting  words  to  them,  and 
tell  them  if  they  would  repent  and  return  to  God  their 
Father,  he  would  forgive  them  all  their  sins.  He  was 
told  to  go  and  cry  it  throughout  the  land.  John  asked : 
"What  shall  I  cry?"  and  the  voice  answered:  "Cry, 
'All  flesh  is  like  grass,  the  grass  withereth  and  fadeth 
away ;  but  the  word  of  your  God  and  Father  shall  stand 
true  forever.'  Cry  up  and  down.  Get  thee  up  into  the 
high  mountain,  lift  up  thy  voice  with  strength,  lift  it 
up,  be  not  afraid.     Say  unto  the  cities  of  the  world  : 

244 


John  the  Baptist  245 

'Repent  and  behold  your  God,  for  he  shall  come  with 
a  strong  hand,  and  shall  rule  with  strength,  and  his  re- 
ward shall  be  with  him ;  and  he  shall  feed  his  flock  like 
a  shepherd,  and  shall  gather  the  lambs  in  his  bosom; 
and  shall  gently  lead  the  young.'" 

Oh,  what  a  glorious  message  from  our  God  and  Father 
to  his  disobedient  children!  And  that  same  message 
that  John  the  Baptist  was  sent  with  to  the  disobedient 
and  lost  children  in  that  age,  nearly  nineteen  hundred 
years  ago,  to  the  children  of  Israel,  is  good  to  all  God's 
children  throughout  the  whole  universal  world. 

As  long  as  this  world  lasts  in  its  present  condition, 
is  that  message  extended  to  every  sinful  creature  that 
has  broken  one  of  God's  commands,  whether  he  be  a 
king  on  his  throne  or  the  poorest  or  lowest  man  that 
walks  on  God's  earth;  or  whether  it  be  the  princess  in 
her  palace,  or  the  harlot  on  the  street,  the  message  is  ex- 
tended to  all.  God's  word  will  never  be  broken,  and 
every  promise  he  has  made  to  his  children  will  be  ful- 
filled. 

So  John's  first  work  was  simply  to  go  around  and  tell 
all  the  people  what  God  had  promised  to  do  for  them, 
if  they  would  obey  and  do  as  he  commanded.  How 
long  John  was  preaching  up  and  down  through  all  the 
country  we  do  not  know;  it  may  have  taken  him  a 
time  to  get  the  people  all  ready  to  come  to  the  Jordan 
to  be  baptized  of  him.  But,  however  long  it  may  have 
taken  him,  he  had  done  the  first  part  of  his  work  well, 
for  he  brought  many  to  the  Jordan. 

We  can  see  from  this  what  John  had  preached  and 
told  them,  had  brought  them  to  see  their  need  of  re- 


246  The  Spirit  Father 

pentance  and  confession  before  God  would  forgive  them 
and  take  them  again  into  his  favor. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  controversy  among  our  learned 
theologians  about  the  baptism  of  John,  and  the  bap- 
tism of  Jesus. 

Now,  if  our  learned  theologians  would  leave  off  dig- 
ging up  old  mythologies,  and  turn  right  back  from  where 
they  are,  and  get  to  the  river  Jordan,  or  any  other  river, 
and  do  what  the  people  gathered  there  with  John  the 
Baptist  did  then,  and  not  till  then,  will  their  contro- 
versies cease. 

They  will  then  be  able  to  turn  to  the  pure,  divine 
teachings  of  Jesus  Christ. 

"The  teachings  of  God  through  Christ  are  so  simple 
that  a  little  child  can  understand;  if  they  turn  to  God 
to  be  taught  of  him,  in  place  of  going  into  all  the  teach- 
ings of  men,  looking  for  divine  teaching  from  old  books 
in  place  of  asking  it  from  God.  The  more  they  dig  into 
their  mythologies  the  deeper  they  go  into  darkness. 

Now,  let  us  understand  what  John  the  Baptist  brought 
those  people  to  the  Jordan  for.  It  was  God's  command 
to  bring  them  to  the  waters  to  test  them.  (Just  as  he 
gave  like  command  to  Gideon  to  bring  all  the  people 
to  the  waters  centuries  before.) 

Why  does  God  use  water  in  all  his  covenants?  The 
water  and  the  blood.  The  water  is  the  seal  of  the  cove- 
nant between  man  and  God,  and  the  blood  is  the  seal  of 
the  covenant  between  God  and  man. 

John  brought  the  people  to  the  Jordan  to  see  how 
many  were  willing  to  seal  the  Covenant  with  God,  and 
to  confess  they  had  broken  their  covenant  with  God 


John  the  Baptist  247 

by  turning  away  from  the  God  of  heaven,  to  worship 
Baal. 

Although  they  lived  under  the  natural  law  and  were 
permitted  to  live  beastly  lives  under  that  law,  they 
were  not  permitted  to  worship  any  God,  but  the  God 
of  heaven.  So  they  were  brought  to  the  Jordan,  to  con- 
fess their  sins,  and  to  receive  God's  full  and  free  for- 
giveness for  all  their  past  evil  life,  and  to  make  a  new 
covenant  with  God. 

Under  the  new  covenant  and  spiritual  law  God  was 
going  to  make  with  man  for  all  future  ages.  Now  John 
was  baptizing  them  under  the  old  law.  Then  going 
into  the  water  was  to  symbolize  their  acknowledgment 
of  the  death  of  the  old  law.  The  water  is  also  the  sym- 
bol of  cleansing  from  all  their  past  sin.  That  was  God's 
promise  to  them  if  they  would  return  to  him;  and 
begin  a  new  life  under  the  new  covenant,  and  that 
promise  holds  from  that  age  to  all  future  ages.  For 
all  the  human  race  are  born  into  the  world  under  the 
curse  of  Original  Sin  and  every  man  and  woman  that 
comes  to  the  years  of  maturity  are  called  upon  to 
repent  and  acknowledge  their  sins  and  begin  to  live 
for  their  spiritual  life.  The  people  now  are  like  the 
people  then.  Many  came  to  the  river  all  the  call  of 
John  and  many  did  not.  And  many  in  this  age  are 
sealing  their  covenant  with  God  by  going  into  the 
baptismal  waters,  and  many  are  not.  But  only  those 
that  are  willing  to  seal  their  covenant  with  God  and 
in  God's  way,  has  any  right  to  ask  for,  or  expect  the 
covenant  blessing  that  God  has  promised  to  the  chil- 
dren of  obedience  under  the   new  spiritual  covenant. 


248  The  Spirit  Father 

That  is  why  so  many  Christians  have  no  spiritual  life, 
they  have  not  made  and  sealed  their  covenant.  You 
know  it  always  takes  two  parties,  or  more,  to  make  a 
covenant  but  no  one  can  make  a  covenant  by  them- 
selves. So  God  makes  the  covenant  with  man,  and 
man  makes  the  covenant  with  God. 

Man  seals  his  covenant  with  water,  God  seals  his 
covenant  with  the  blood  of  Christ.  Now  what  seems 
to  confuse  many  in  talking  on  this  Baptism  matter  is 
that  they  can  not  understand  why  Jesus  came  to  be 
baptized  among  the  sinners,  if  he  was  the  one  perfect 
and  spotless  human  man.  Now  let  us  see  what  Jesus 's 
own  baptism  symbolizes:  Death  to  the  old  covenant; 
death  to  the  natural  law,  and  death  to  the  animal  life 
in  man. 

Christ's  baptism  also  represents  the  resurrection  of 
the  spiritual  law,  the  spiritual  man,  and  spiritual  life, 
to  be  lived  under  the  new  covenant. 

That  was  what  the  two  baptisms  at  the  Jordan 
represents,  and  both  took  place  under  the  old  cove- 
nant. 

Then  we  come  to  the  baptism  that  Christ  commanded 
under  the  new  covenant,  the  christian  baptism,  or 
what  is  called  beUevers'  baptism.  It  should  take 
place  when  man  or  woman  is  come  to  the  years  to 
understand  what  that  baptism  means,  and  what  is 
required  by  God  of  those  who  offer  themselves  for 
that  baptism.  The}'^  must  believe  that  Christ  is  the 
son  of  God,  annointed  with  the  Father's  power,  and 
commissioned  to  do  the  work  he  did,  to  deliver  the 


John  the  Baptist  249 

Father's  commands  and  promises,  and  to  make  the 
everlasting  covenant  between  God  and  man. 

Then  they  should  understand  what  the  commands 
of  God  requires  of  them,  and  what  the  promises  are  to 
them.  If  they  are  willing  to  obey  the  commands,  and 
accept  the  promises  on  God's  conditions  they  ought  to 
seal  the  covenant  between  themselves  and  God. 

And  if  they  fulfill  their  part,  they  can  hold  God  to 
fulfill  his  part. 

The  Heavenly  Father  is  more  willing  to  fufill  his 
part  than  his  children  are  to  fulfill  theirs. 

When  John  saw  all  the  people  gathered  at  the  Jordan 
he  looked  around  and  saw  many  of  the  Pharisees  and 
Sadducees  amongst  them.  And  what  did  he  say?  "  O, 
ye  generation  of  vipers,  who  hath  warned  ye  to  flee 
from  the  wrath  to  come?"  John  was  without  fear 
when  he  called  them  such  names,  for  the  Pharisees  and 
Sadducees  of  that  age  were  counted  the  great  men  of 
the  nation.  The  celebrated  ones,  the  separated  ones, 
they  called  themselves  the  holy  people ;  but  John  knew 
what  they  were  and  was  not  afraid  to  tell  them. 

When  God  sends  his  chosen  servants  out  to  do  his 
work  they  are  without  fear  and  not  afraid  to  speak  the 
truth,  whether  it  be  to  the  great  or  the  small. 

John  still  preached  to  them,  telling  them  they  had 
to  bring  forth  fruits  meet  for  repentance,  that  is,  they 
were  to  show  by  their  works,  their  deeds,  and  their  lives 
that  they  had  repented  truly,  or  the  baptism  they  were 
going  to  receive  would  be  of  no  use  to  them,  and  that 
the  "ax  was  now  going  to  be  laid  to  the  root  of  the 


250  The  Spirit  Father 

trees,  and  every  tree  that  did  not  bring  forth  good 
fruit  would  be  hewn  down,  and  cast  into  the  fire." 

Let  us  look  at  the  trees  John  is  speaking  of  here. 
Many  people  in  reading  the  Bible  never  think  that 
when  they  read  of  trees  in  many  parts  of  the  Bible,  that 
it  is  people  that  are  spoken  of  by  the  name  of  trees. 
Man  is  spoken  of  as  a  tree  from  the  second  chapter  of 
Genesis  through  all  the  Bible.  So  John  in  telling  them 
that  the  "  'ax  is  now  to  be  laid  to  the  root  of  the  trees; 
and  all  that  bringeth  forth  not  good  fruit  will  be  hewn 
down,  and  cast  into  the  fire,  for  I  can  only  baptize  you 
with  water  unto  your  repentance,  but  He  that  is  coming 
after  me  is  mightier  than  I.' 

"If  you  will  be  true  to  your  vow  of  repentance,  and 
begin  your  new  life,  from  your  water  baptism,  he  can 
baptize  you  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire;  but 
he  will  have  his  fan  in  his  hand  that  he  can  thoroughly 
cleanse  the  wheat  from  the  chaff;  and  he  will  gather 
the  wheat  into  his  garner,  but  he  will  burn  the  chaff 
with   unquenchable  fire." 

In  speaking  of  wheat  and  chaff  John  means  the  peo- 
ple; he  preaches  to  them  many  times  in  parables;  he  is 
warning  them  well  and  showing  them  just  what  this 
water  baptism  means;  and  what  they  have  to  do  is 
repent,  before  they  can  receive  the  baptism  for  the 
remission  of  their  sins. 

Even  if  they  had  repented  and  made  their  vows 
before  they  received  their  baptism,  if  they  did  not  keep 
the  vows  they  had  made,  to  live  lives  in  obedience  to 
the  laws  and  commands  of  God,  their  baptism  would 
be  of  no  effect. 


John  the  Baptist  251 

Just  as  thousands  are  baptized  in  this  age,  that  do 
not  keep  their  vows  (if  they  ever  make  any,)  they  just 
go  on  in  their  old  careless  disobedient  life  without  a 
thought  that  they  ever  needed  to  change;  they  merely 
partake  of  the  baptism  because  it  is  an  ordinance  in 
the  church  to  which  they  belong,  and  they  think  that 
is  all  that  is  necessary. 

So  many  of  those  calling  themselves  the  servants  of 
God  in  these  days,  when  we  speak  to  them  on  the  sub- 
ject of  baptism  by  immersion,  tell  us  that  baptism  is 
not  necessary,  and  bring  before  us  to  uphold  their 
views,  the  baptism  of  John,  saying,  "It  was  a  heathen 
baptism  and  not  necessary  for  Christians. 

Well,  that  is  all  right  as  far  as  they  take  us  on  the 
subject.  John's  baptism  was  certainly  a  heathen 
baptism,  for  John's  work  was  to  prepare  the  heathen 
to  become  Christians. 

Every  man  and  woman  in  the  universal  world  that 
has  come  to  the  years  of  manhood  or  womanhood,  and 
have  not  become  Christians  by  repentance,  are  heathen, 
for  we  must  either  be  a  Christan  or  a  heathen,  just  as 
we  say,  he  is  either  a  good  man  or  a  bad  man,  so  can  we 
say,  he  is  either  a  Christian  or  a  heathen ;  for  the  one  is 
typical  of  the  other. 

The  man  that  knows  the  true  God  and  Father  and 
believes  in  Christ  is  a  Christian  or  else  he  believes  him- 
self one.  But,  alas,  there  are  many  men  and  women 
who  believe  themselves  Christians,  that  have  never  yet 
become  real  Christians;  they  believe  they  are  all  right 
and  are  quite  satisfied  with  themselves.  They  have 
been  born  of  Christian  parents,  and  brought  up  in  a 


252  The  Spirit  Father 

Christian  home,  sent  to  Sunday  School,  and  out 
into  church,  so  they  have  been  brought  up  Christians. 
If  any  one  speaks  to  them  of  their  souls'  salvation,  and 
ask  them  how  long  since  they  became  a  Christian,  they 
will  look  at  you  in  surprise,  and  say:  "I  do  not  know 
when  I  was  not  a  Christian  and  I  have  been  a  member 
of  the  church  for  years."  Now  I  say  God  help  those 
good  blind  people!  I  was  one  of  them  once.  But 
thank  God  my  Spirit  Father  opened  my  eyes,  and 
showed  me  that  there  could  be  no  "brought  up  Chris- 
tians," that  every  human  creature  has  to  become  a 
Christian  and  that  must  be  when  they  come  to  the 
years  to  know  what  it  means  to  be  a  Christian  and  they 
must  know  their  need  of  becoming  a  Christian  before 
they  will  seek  the  new  birth.  They  must  be  born 
again  before  they  can  receive  the  seal  of  Christian 
fellowship  Avith  Christ,  before  they  can  have  their  name 
enrolled  in  the  book  of  heaven,  there  is  a  book  kept 
there  for  the  enrollment  of  the  names  of  every  child  of 
God  that  receives  the  new  birth. 

We  may  have  our  names  in  many  church  books  on 
earth,  for  in  moving  from  place  to  place  we  have  to  find 
another  church,  and  some  get  dissatisfied  ^vith  one 
church  and  unite  with  another.  So  our  names  may 
be  on  many  earthly  church  books  but  unless  our  name 
is  enrolled  in  God's  book,  in  the  church  of  the  living 
God,  we  cannot  be  received  into  the  Christian  fellow- 
ship of  the  redeemed  children  of  God.  How  are  we  to 
receive  this  new  birth,  and  when?  We  cannot  receive 
it  or  seek  it  until  we  know  our  need  of  it;  that  is,  when 
we  come  to  the  years  of  understanding.     Some  may  be 


John  the  Baptist  253 

brought  at  an  earlier  age  than  others  to  understand 
their  need  of  this  new  birth.  But  all  must  be  born 
again  before  they  can  be  brought  back  to  their  Father 
as  one  of  his  redeemed  children. 

Then  how  are  we  to  receive  this  new  birth? 

We  will  answer  that  question  in  the  words  of  Jesus 
from  the  third  chapter  of  John,  the  third  verse.  One  of 
the  Pharisees  named  Nicodemus  came  to  Jesus  to  be 
taught,  and  the  first  thing  Jesus  told  him  was:  that  he 
must  be  born  again,  before  he  could  see  the  kingdom  of 
God.  Nicodemus  must  have  been  an  old  man,  for  he 
was  one  of  the  rulers  of  the  Jews  and  he  asked  Jesus, 
"How  can  a  man  be  born  when  he  is  old,  can  he  enter 
the  second  time  into  his  mother's  womb  and  be  born 
again?"  Jesus  must  have  said  not  in  that  way  can  a 
man  be  born  to  enter  into  heaven :  (for  that  would  be  a 
human  birth).  "But  except  ye  be  born  of  water,  and 
of  the  spirit,  ye  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God." 

How  many  there  are  who  believe  that  this  water  and 
spirit  birth  means  the  Holy  Spirit  or  the  Holy  Ghost. 
So  many  believe  they  can  receive  the  Holy  Spirit  bap- 
tism without  the  water  baptism,  and  that  is  all  they 
need. 

But  that  is  because  they  do  not  understand  that  the 
spirit  spoken  of  in  connection  with  the  water  is  neither 
the  Holy  Spirit  nor  the  Holy  Ghost,  it  is  the  obedient 
spirit  that  is  meant  there. 

That  was  John  the  Baptist's  first  work;  to  teach, 
preach  and  convince  the  disobedient  spirit  children  of 
God  to  return  in  obedience  at  their  father's  command, 
and  to  get  ready  to  follow  Jesus  when  he  came  to  lead 


254  The  Spirit  Father 

them  home.  But  they  had  to  go  wilUngly  and  in  per- 
fect obedience  to  the  river  Jordan  to  be  baptized. 
Before  they  could  be  ready  to  follow  Jesus  they  had  to 
go  into  the  waters,  and  be  buried  under  them,  and 
raised  up  again  to  begin  their  new  life  of  love  and  obe- 
dience to  their  Father.  That  is  the  new  birth  Jesus 
was  spealdng  about  to  Nicodemus,  the  obedient  spirit 
child  within  us  obeying  the  command  of  our  Father. 

All  God's  redeemed  children  will  not  be  endued 
with  the  Holy  Spirit's  power,  or  annointed  with  the 
Holy  Ghost  as  Jesus  was  endued  with  the  spirit  power 
of  God.  But  every  child  that  has  received  their  new 
birth  from  God, — born  of  the  spirit;  the  spirit  child 
within  them  will  become  a  holy  spirit,  a  pure,  holy,  and 
obedient  spirit  and  the  more  obedient  they  live  to  the 
commands  and  will  of  God  and  feed  their  spirit  life,  the 
more  powerful  will  become  the  holy  spirit  within  them, 
until  the  spiritual  life  within  will  fill  up,  and  flow  out 
of  them  to  all  around.  It  will  be  a  well  of  living  water 
within  them,  that  will  [have  to  find  vent  or  it  will  over- 
flow. And  that  spirit  life  will  be  fed  from  God,  just  as 
a  little  child  is  fed  from  its  human  parent,  little  by 
little  and  grows  stronger  day  by  day,  until  it  is  able 
to  eat  the  meat,  as  well  as  the  milk;  so  God  feeds  the 
spirit  life. 

But  that  is  not  the  Holy  Spirit's  power  of  God  put 
upon  us,  that  is  the  spirit  child  within  us  quickened 
or  made  alive  to  its  need.  Then  we  know  our  spiritual 
needs  and  seek  after  them,  instead  of  after  the  need 
of  the  flesh  and  the  world  as  we  did  before.  Every  new 
born  child  of  God  will  be  filled  with  a  holy  obedient 


John  the  Baptist  255 

spirit  power  and  will  obey  God  in  defiance  of  all  human 
power.  Out  from  among  the  obedient  children  our 
father  chooses  his  sons,  those  he  is  willing  to  entrust 
with  his  work,  and  only  after  he  has  found  them  faithful 
and  obedient  will  he  anoint  them  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  indue  them  with  the  holy  spirit's  power.  Every 
one  will  be  given  power  according  to  the  work  he  has 
for  them  to  do. 

If  many  of  the  self-constituted  servants  of  God  in 
these  days  could  see  themselves  as  God  must  see  them, 
they  would  soon  seek  other  occupations.  "  For  he  that 
sitteth  in  the  heavens  laugheth  at  them,  and  holdeth 
them  in  derision."  For  the  work  of  many  of  them  have 
not  the  stamp  of  God's  seal  upon  them,  so  they  cannot 
be  of  God. 

'John  had  now  gotten  all  the  people  gathered  to  the 
river  Jordan,  he  then  began  to  finish  his  work  in  the 
baptizing  of  the  people. 

Jesus  came  to  the  Jordan  also  to  be  baptized  of  him. 
So  John's  work  was  finished  and  he  ended  his  earthly 
Ufe  in  a  prison.  He  had  rebuked  Iving  Herod  for  taking 
his  brother's  wife,  and  told  him  it  was  not  lawful  for  him 
to  have  her.  John  had  offended  Herod  by  showing 
him  his  sinful  Hfe,  and  he  ordered  that  he  should  be 
cast  into  prison,  and  after  a  short  time  he  had  John 
beheaded.  Thus  ended  John's  great  work  on  earth  as 
far  as  John  the  Baptist  in  the  human  flesh  was  con- 
cerned, but  the  spirit  of  John  the  Baptist  had  to  be 
reincarnated,  to  work  out  its  own  salvation  under  the 
new  covenant.  Christ's  words  in  speaking  of  John, 
was  in  reference  to  that  when  he  said  ''John  was  the 


256  The  Spirit  Father 

greatest  born  of  woman,  but  the  least  in  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  was  greater  than  he. 

John  had  to  be  born  of  the  spirit  under  the  new  cov- 
enant, for  John  was  beheaded  before  the  new  covenant 
was  in  force. 

All  Christ's  ministry  was  done  before  the  new  cove- 
nant was  sealed. 

Christ  was  only  preparing  the  testimony  that  was 
to  be  sealed  between  God  and  man.  And  when  Christ 
had  finished  the  work,  God  permitted  it  to  be  sealed 
with  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  that  testimony  will  never 
be  changed  or  broken.  That  was  the  last  covenant 
God  would  make  with  man,  and  came  in  force  when 
Christ  rose  from  the  grave,  and  gave  his  commands  to 
the  Apostles,  to  go  and  make  disciples  of  all  nations. 
It  was  then  the  believers'  baptism  was  instituted,  and 
from  that  age  to  the  present  and  through  all  the  future 
ages,  until  God's  appointed  day  comes  to  call  all  to  the 
Judgment;  the  command  Christ  gave  to  his  apostles 
must  go  on  under  Christ,  but  by  human  instruments. 

There  must  always  be  some  one  on  earth  doing  the 
work  of  John  the  Baptist,  preparing  the  way  for  Christ; 
for  every  sinner's  heart  must  be  prepared  before  Christ 
can  enter  and  do  his  work.  From  that  age  to  the 
present,  God  has  chosen  special  servants,  and  annointed 
them  with  power  for  world-wide  work  at  certain  periods 
as  he  has  seen  the  need. 

And  the  work  has  been  done  by  each  one  just  as  God 
wanted  it  at  that  time,  the  awakening  of  the  sinners  to 
see  their  own  need,  and  to  tell  them  of  Christ,  and 
God's  promise  to  them  and  the  love  and  mercy  of  God 


John  the  Baptist  257 

to  the  repentant  sinner.  Every  step  God  has  taken  in 
the  work  he  has  brought  a  fuller  light,  and  will  do  so 
until  man  is  brought  under  perfect  subjection  to  the 
spiritual  law  of  God. 

But  there  must  be  a  fuller  light  on  Christ's  teachings, 
brought  before  the  world  yet,  than  has  ever  been 
preached  by  human  man.  Allow  us  to  review  or  men- 
tion the  work  of  a  few  of  God's  chosen  servants.  We 
will  take  John  Knox,  he  is  dead,  but  his  work  still  Uves, 
he  turned  tens  of  thousands  of  hearts  to  Christ.  Lu- 
ther, too,  tens  of  thousands  throughout  the  world  bless 
God  for  Luther. 

Then  the  great  John  Wesley,  look  at  his  glori- 
ous world-wide  work,  look  at  the  multitudes  of 
hearts  he  turned  to  Christ.  His  work  lives.  Then 
we  have  the  glorious  world-wide  work  of  General  Booth. 
There  is  hardly  a  place  in  the  universe  where  the  Salva- 
tion Army  has  not  carried  the  offer  of  salvation  in  the 
name  of  Jesus,  and  they  have  gathered  in  multitudes  of 
sinners  that  have  been  lifted  out  of  lives  of  sin  and 
gathered  into  the  fold  of  Christ.  D.  L.  Moody,  although 
dead,  his  work  still  lives.  He  did  a  glorious  work  for 
God. 

These  were  all  specially  called  instruments  of  God. 
And  the  glorious  triumphs  of  their  work  will  meet  them 
at  the  judgment.  Each  one  did  his  work  according 
to  the  light  and  power  God  gave  him. 

Then  we  come  to  a  later  and  specially  prepared  in- 
strument of  God  for  a  world-wide  work  in  another  for- 
ward step  in  God's  plan. 

There  are  tens  of  thousands  throughout  the  world 


258  The  Spirit  Father 

who  bless  God  for  the  work  being  done  through  John 
Alexander  Dowie. 

Many  object  to  his  teachings,  but  there  can  be  no 
doubt  but  he  is  the  instrument  of  God.  Let  us  fairly 
and  honestly  review  his  work — remember,  I  am  only 
speaking  of  the  spiritual  side  of  the  work.  I  know 
nothing  about  the  temporal  or  financial  side. 

But  I  believe  he  is  God's  instrument,  and  if  God  has 
shown  him  these  things  have  to  be  done  through  him, 
then  he  will  be  answerable  to  God  if  he  does  not  fulfill 
the  work  he  is  called  to  do. 

I  will  speak  only  from  what  I  see  and  understand. 
Thespiritual  work  he  is  doing  embraces  a  greater  fullness 
in  the  teachings  and  commands  of  Christ,  from  the  Bible 
teachings,  than  any  given  through  man  since  the  Apos- 
tles'time.  And  why  so?  Not  that  all  the  other  special 
instruments  were  not  just  as  faithful  to  God  and  Christ 
in  their  work  as  he,  but  every  step  God  is  taking  forward 
in  his  plan  is  to  bring  out  more  and  a  fuller  light  as  God 
has  his  people  prepared  to  receive  it.  God  cannot  give 
meat  to  babes  that  are  only  able  to  drink  milk. 

All  the  power  of  the  work  Christ  did  when  on  earth 
must  be  brought  forth  again  in  all  its  fullness.  As  the 
time  draws  near  for  the  fulfillment  of  God's  work  for 
the  redemption  of  man,  one  of  Christ's  works  is  being 
revived  at  the  present.  The  reviving  of  divine  healing 
as  a  universal  teaching.  Divine  healing  has  only  been 
left  sleeping  for  God's  own  purpose.  It  has  never  been 
lost  sight  of,  there  has  always  been  some  who  under- 
stood from  the  Bible  that  it  was  God's  will  to  heal  his 


John  the  Baptist  259 

children  if  they  sought  it  on  God's  conditions  and  had 
faith  in  Jesus  as  the  Healer. 

Now,  let  us  ask  why  this  glorious  blessing  was  al- 
lowed to  sleep,  while  the  human  race  has  been  groan- 
ing under  sickness,  disease  and  death,  in  the  hands  of 
doctors  and  medicine,  until  their  lives  have  become  a 
burden  to  them.  Well,  as  all  the  working  out  of  God's 
plan  is  to  manifest  his  own  glory,  and  to  show  forth 
the  power  and  truthfulness  of  Christ's  work  from  age  to 
age. 

If  divine  healing  had  been  kept  before  the  world  side 
by  side  with  salvation,  God's  children  would  never 
have  known  the  difference  between  the  healing  power 
of  man  and  the  heaUng  power  of  God.  He  has  left  man 
to  ponder  into  all  sorts  of  science,  looking  for  power  to 
heal  and  cleanse  the  human  flesh,  and  to  help  their  fel- 
low-men in  their  human  suffering,  until  the  very  men 
that  have  spent  their  lifetime  in  the  researches  after 
remedies  for  the  alleviating  of  human  miseries,  have 
become  the  murderers  and  destroyers  of  tens  of  thou- 
sands of  their  fellow-creatures.  So  God's  time  has 
come  to  stretch  forth  his  hand  and  make  manifest  his 
own  glory,  and  bring  the  human  flesh  of  his  people 
under  the  healing  power  of  his  own  hand. 

I  believe  that  is  part  of  the  work  John  Alexander 
Dowie  is  called  of  God  to  do,  to  revive  through  his 
teachings  the  power  of  God  as  the  Healer  of  his  people 
throughout  the  world. 

And  we  see  another  part  of  God's  work  through 
Doctor  Dowie,  the  bringing  before  the  world  the  dan- 


260  The  Spirit  Father 

gerous  doctrine  in  the  rituals  of  the  secret  societies. 

Tens  of  thousands  of  our  men,  both  old  and  3'oung, 
that  were  believers  in  the  God  of  heaven  as  Father,  and 
in  Christ  as  the  Son  of  God,  the  reconciler  between 
God  and  his  children,  and  the  Saviour  of  the  human 
race.  That  was  the  belief  of  many,  they  were  true  to 
God  as  far  as  their  light  led  them,  and  truly  worshiped 
God. 

As  soon  as  they  enter  into  fellowship  with  these  secret 
societies,  and  come  under  the  influence  of  the  heathen 
ritual,  they  do  not  know  what  to  believe.  These  rit- 
uals are  all  taken  from  old  Bible  teachings;  and  that 
teaching  is  more  suited  to  multitudes  of  human  crea- 
tures than  the  pure  and  holy  teachings  of  Christ. 

In  their  spiritual  blindness  they  do  not  understand 
the  difference  between  the  two  covenants;  therefore, 
in  a  few  years,  thousands  of  men  that  were  true  wor- 
shipers of  God  do  not  know  whether  they  have  a  God 
and  Father  in  heaven,  or  a  Supreme  Being,  or  a  Ruler 
of  the  Universe. 

0,  how  many  wives  and  mothers'  hearts  are  crying 
to  God  for  the  return  of  their  husbands  and  sons  to  the 
worship  of  the  true  God!  I  believe  God  has  heard  that 
cry  and  is  sending  light  to  multitudes  that  have  been 
innocently  led  away  from  their  God  and  Father.  They 
arc  paying  their  money  and  time  for  the  secrets  that 
are  binding  their  souls  to  Satan,  and  shutting  up  their 
hearts  in  heathen  darkness. 


CHAPTER   XXX. 


JESUS. 


In  the  three  narratives  on  the  life  of  Jesus — his  in- 
fancy, his  boyhood  and  manhood,  each  has  a  lesson  in 
them  to  God's  children  for  teaching  and  instructions. 

First:  The  lowly  human  birth  of  Jesus  and  his  early 
surroundings  teach  us  that  we  can  be  born  in  poverty, 
and  be  brought  up  to  honest  daily  toil,  and  be  the 
faithful  sons  and  daughters  of  our  heavenly  Father. 
We  need  not  be  born  in  a  palace  or  surrounded  with  the 
wealth  of  the  world  to  become  the  true,  obedient  and 
faithful  sons  of  God;  it  is  the  inner  life's  desire  that 
draws  us  to  the  father.  The  majority  of  God's  faith- 
ful children  are  found  amongst  the  lowly  and  poor  of 
the  world;  and  the  poorest  home  on  earth  is  turned 
into  a  palace  if  it  be  the  dwelling  place  of  Jesus,  that  is, 
if  it  be  the  home  of  God's  faithful  children,  and  the 
love  of  Christ  fills  their  hearts,  then  it  is  the  home  of 
love,  joy  and  peace. 

I  believe  that  was  the  kind  of  a  home  that  Jesus  was 
brought  up  in  with  Joseph  and  Mary  his  mother,  and 
he  was  taught  to  know  and  obey  his  heavenly  father 
just  as  many  young  boys  are  taught  now.  In  the  sec- 
ond place:  Jesus  is  brought  before  us  when  he  was 
twelve  years  old — it  shows  us  a  young  lad  just  about 

261 


262  The  Spirit  Father 

the  age  that  boys  are  apt  to  be  wandering  away,  or 
running  away  from  home. 

How  many  we  see  doing  that  around  us  at  all  times, 
for  just  at  that  age  they  are  out  of  their  childhood, 
and  they  become  restless  and  cannot  bear  the  restraint 
that  generally  has  to  be  put  upon  them ;  they  feel  they 
want  more  freedom  and  mix-up  with  older  boys,  and 
often  think  they  are  quite  men. 

We  see,  in  bringing  Jesus  before  us  at  that  age,  a  per- 
fect lesson  and  example  to  both  parents  and  children. 
It  should  be  brought  before  every  child  and  taught  to 
them  as  one  of  the  Bible  stories  as  soon  as  they  are  able 
to  understand  and  be  taught  of  Jesus. 

Let  us  tell  the  story  as  we  see  it. 

Jesus,  at  the  age  of  twelve,  left  the  care  of  his  par- 
ents, and  they  did  not  miss  him  for  a  whole  day;  but, 
as  night  came  on,  they  missed  their  boy,  and  felt  he 
should  have  been  under  their  care. 

So  the  first  thing  they  did  was  to  go  out  among  their 
friends  and  look  for  the  child.  But  he  was  not  with 
any  of  them,  so  they  became  uneasy,  and  started  out 
to  look  for  him,  thinking  some  evil  or  danger  had  be- 
fallen him.  That  may  have  been  the  first  time  Jesus 
had  ever  spent  a  night  or  a  day  away  from  the  care  of 
his  parents,  so  they  were  troubled  about  him.  They 
sought  him  up  and  down,  asking  every  one  they  met 
if  they  had  seen  their  boy;  their  hearts  were  full  of 
sorrow  and  fear,  until  someone  told  them  where  they 
had  seen  him;  they  went  to  the  place  and  found  him 
among  men,  perhaps  some  of  them  bad,  and  some  of 


Jesus  263 

them  good;  but,  however  that  may  have  been,  they 
found  him  in  company  much  older  than  himself,  and 
company  his  mother  thought  he  should  not  have  been 
with;  for  she  chided  him  for  leaving  them,  and  being 
there ;  and  the  answer  he  gave  shows  that  he  must  have 
thought  himself  old  enough  to  do  as  he  wished. 

But  what  his  parents  said  to  him  showed  him  other- 
wise; for  he  left  the  temple  and  went  back  with  them 
to  Nazareth,  and  remained  under  their  care  and  con- 
trol until  the  years  of  his  maturity. 

This  act  in  the  life  of  Jesus  and  his  parents  is  repeat- 
ing itself  in  our  daily  lives.  What  is  the  first  thing 
a  father  or  mother  will  do  if,  when  it  comes  night  and 
time  to  close  up  their  home,  they  find  one  of  their  chil- 
dren missing?  The  first  question  will  be.  Where 
did  you  see  him?  Surely  he  must  be  with  some 
of  your  friends;  let  us  go  to  their  homes  and  see 
if  |we  find  him.  So  they  search  from  home  to  home 
among  their  friends,  but  the  boy  is  not  to  be  found. 
The  days  go  by  and  they  keep  on  searching  and  looking 
for  their  lost  child;  for  the  parents'  hearts  cannot  rest 
till  they  know  what  has  become  of  their  child.  Even 
if  they  learn  he  is  dead,  they  must  know  what  has  be- 
come of  him  before  they  will  be  satisfied. 

It  may  be  days,  weeks  or  even  months  before  they 
hear  of  him,  if  he  has  taken  it  into  his  head  to  run  away, 
but  as  soon  as  they  hear  of  him  they  find  him,  and  bring 
him  back ;  for  if  he  is  an  obedient  son  he  will  return  to 
his  parents'  home. 

In  bringing  the  life  of  Jesus  before  us  in  this  way,  we 
are  shown  that  his  life  was  a  perfectly  human  life,  just 


264  The  Spirit  Father 

like  any  other  boy,  and  that  when  God  gave  him  into 
the  care  of  Joseph  to  bring  up,  he  was  to  be  under  their 
care  and  obedient  to  them  until  he  grew  into  the  years 
of  manhood,  and  able  to  decide  what  was  right  for  him 
to  do  with  his  own  life. 

We  can  see  from  this  lesson  also  that  parents  have  a 
perfect  right  to  expect  a  perfect  obedience,  and  to  hold 
control  over  their  children,  but  only  for  a  limited  num- 
ber of  years.  When  the  years  of  maturity  are  reached 
men  and  women  both  feel  they  must  have  the  ruling 
and  directing  of  their  own  lives,  and  cannot  be  happy 
otherwise,  or  they  would  feel  they  were  in  bondage. 
But  as  long  as  a  good  son  or  daughter  lives  and  has  an 
aged  father  or  mother  living,  their  love  and  care  will  be 
bestowed  on  them  and  the  obedience  they  give  them 
will  be  through  the  love  and  respect  they  have  for  them. 
Jesus  shows  us  this  lesson  through  the  love  and  care  he 
shows  for  his  mother  after  he  left  her  care  and  protec- 
tion, and  could  not  be  with  her  to  care  for  her  himself, 
he  gave  her  to  the  care  of  his  beloved  disciple. 

Then  we  take  the  third  narrative  of  Jesus'  life;  we 
see  him  grown  into  the  full  years  of  a  perfect  manhood, 
full  of  purity  and  power. 

I  do  not  know  how  others  may  look  at  Jesus  or  what 
kind  of  a  picture  they  may  have  of  him  in  their  minds, 
but  the  picture  I  see  of  him : — He  was  the  most  stately 
beautiful  young  man  that  has  ever  stepped  on  earth. 

I  think  of  Samuel's  words  when  he  was  describing 
David.  He  said:  "He  was  rudd}'^  and  of  a  beautiful 
countenance,  and  goodly  to  look  at."  It  is  the  love 
and  compassion  that  I  sec  looking  out  of  the  face  of 


Jesus  "265 

Jesus,  my  elder  brother,  that  draws  my  heart  to  him 
and  makes  him  my  ideal.  I  think  I  have  only  met 
with  one  human  face  in  all  the  years  that  have  passed 
since  I  had  drawn  for  myself  the  pictured  face  of  Jesus 
as  my  elder  brother  in  his  young  manhood,  before  he 
took  upon  himself  the  burden  and  sorrows  of  his  diso- 
bedient brothers  and  sisters.  Let  me  tell  you  where 
I  saw  the  face  that  had  the  resemblance  of  what  Jesus 
looked  like  to  me. 

It  must  have  been  fifteen  years  ago.  I  lived  in  the 
city  of  Toronto,  and  went  to  Knox  Church  one  evening 
to  a  farewell  gathering  that  was  being  held  in  behalf  of 
a  Mr.  Goforth.  I  do  not  remember  if  he  was  an  or- 
dained minister,  or  only  a  student.  He  was  from  the 
Toronto  University,  and  was  going  away  to  work  in 
foreign  fields.  One  minister  got  up  and  told  of  his 
worth,  then  another  got  up  to  tell  more  about  him,  but 
I  did  not  know  amongst  all  that  were  on  the  platform 
which  was  Mr.  Goforth. 

But  there  was  a  young  man  sitting  among  them  that 
drew  my  attention  by  the  calm,  noble  look  on  his  face, 
and  the  brilliant  look  in  his  eyes. 

When  he  got  up  to  speak  my  friend  told  me:  "That 
was  Mr.  Goforth."  He  spoke  of  his  great  desire  to  go 
and  carry  the  gospel  teachings,  and  the  offer  of  full  and 
free  salvation  to  the  brothers  and  sisters  living  in  hea- 
then darkness.  He  was  going  to  a  very  unhealthy  cU- 
mate.  I  may  not  repeat  the  words  just  as  he  said 
them,  but  I  think  he  said:  if  he  knew  he  would  only 
live  one  year,  and  could  save  but  one  soul,  he  was  ready 
and  willing  to  go.     The  calm,  holy  look  of  love  and 


266  The  Spirit  Father 

compassion  that  shone  out  of  his  beautiful  face,  and 
the  fire  that  shone  out  of  his  eyes,  showed  the  obedient 
and  holy  spirit  within,  that  brought  out  the  resemblance 
to  my  picture  of  Jesus.  I  do  not  know  if  Mr.  Goforth 
is  still  living,  but  the  impression  he  made  on  me  still 
lives. 

Let  us  stand  for  a  moment  with  Jesus  in  his  home  at 
Nazareth.  There  he  stands  in  the  full  years  of  his 
young  manhood,  working  and  taking  care  of  his  mother, 
helping  her  to  bring  up  the  younger  brothers  and  sis- 
ters, for  Joseph  their  father  was  dead  (another  lesson 
for  our  sons.) 

But  what  does  Jesus  hear  one  evening,  or  perhaps 
morning?  He  hears  that  John  the  Baptist  was  crying 
up  and  down  through  all  the  country,  that  God  the  Fa- 
ther had  sent  him  to  tell  every  one  to  repent  and  con- 
fess their  sins  to  God,  and  go  to  the  river  Jordan,  and 
be  baptized  for  the  remission  of  their  sins. 

He  may  have  heard  John's  cry  but  once,  but  it  would 
be  all  that  was  necessary  for  him  to  obey. 

Then  we  can  see  him  leaving  his  home,  his  mother, 
his  brothers  and  sisters,  never  to  return  to  them  and 
take  up  his  old  life  as  he  had  done  before.  He  was  only 
a  boy  then,  and  his  parents  had  power  to  take  him 
home ;  but  this  time,  if  he  wishes  to  give  himself  to  his 
Father's  work,  no  earthly  power  can  restrain  him,  for 
he  is  of  years  to  decide  what  use  he  will  make  of  his  own 
life,  he  has  reached  the  years  of  wisdom  and  under- 
standing. 

So,  when  he  hears  the  command  to  go  to  Jordan,  he 


Jesus  267 

starts  on  his  journey  perhaps  with  many  others,  and 
his  mother,  brothers  and  sisters  may  all  have  gone  with 
him.  For  John's  message  was  to  every  child  of  God 
then,  as  it  is  now.  Some  may  say  that  it  was  only  to 
sinners,  and  so  it  was,  for  God's  Word  says  that  every 
creature  in  the  world  has  sinned,  and  if  we  say  we  have 
not,  we  lie. 

Jesus  was  living  his  human  life,  like  any  other  hu- 
man man,  and  he  must  have  felt  the  call  was  to  him  as 
well  as  to  others. 

He  went  to  the  Jordan  to  fulfill  the  laws  and  com- 
mands of  God  like  an  obedient  son. 

Whatever  he  may  have  felt  about  his  need  of  re- 
ceiving that  symbol  of  purification,  we  have  nothing 
to  do  with;  it  was  his  obedience  to  the  command  that 
we  have  to  follow. 

I  do  not  believe  Jesus  knew  anything  of  what  God 
brought  him  into  the  world  for,  or  of  the  life  that  was 
awaiting  him,  more  than  does  any  man  know  of  what 
awaits  him. 

Until  the  time  came  when  his  Father  required  him, 
I  believe  he  just  lived  his  happy  boyhood,  and  young 
manhood  like  any  other  good,  pure  man.  And  when 
he  stood  at  the  river  Jordan  among  the  rest  to  be  bap- 
tized he  went  into  the  waters  the  simple  Jesus;  and  as 
soon  as  he  had  fulfilled  the  command  of  God  by  receiv- 
ing that  water  baptism  at  the  hands  of  man,  for  that 
baptism  was  simply  to  symbolize  death  and  resurrec- 
tion— and  that  is  the  emblem  of  every  child  of  God's 
first  resurrection — the  Father's   time  had  come  that 


268  The  Spirit  Father 

he  was  ready  to  use  his  son  for  the  work  he  had  for 
him  to  do.  And  the  command  of  God  through  John: 
for  every  creature  to  gather  at  the  Jordan,  was  given 
to  him  as  well  as  to  others.  And  if  he  had  not  gone  to 
the  Jordan  at  the  call  of  John  I  do  not  believe  he  would 
have  received  the  Father's  blessing  and  be  where  he  is 
to-day.  That  command  was  sent  to  every  human 
creature,  whether  he  was  the  son  of  a  king,  or  the  son  of 
a  beggar. 

And  that  same  command  extends  to  every  human 
creature  in  the  world,  from  that  day  through  all  ages 
until  God's  work  is  finished  in  man:  and  none  dare 
disobey,  unless  through  ignorance,  and  who  in  this  age 
can  plead  ignorance  unless  willful  ignorance,  for  the 
same  Book  that  has  carried  forth  through  all  the  Chris- 
tian era  the  offer  of  salvation  has  carried  forth  the 
command  to  be  baptized.  Salvation  is  offered  with- 
out money  or  without  price,  but  not  without  condi- 
tions, and  baptism  is  a  part  of  the  conditions. 

Salvation  is  offered  free,  as  far  as  a  price  paid  in  mon- 
ey, gold  or  silver,  or  the  equivalent  of  it,  in  any  kind 
of  merchandise,  for  it  is  not  purchased  at  any  money 
value. 

Our  beloved  Father  knew  what  he  was  about  when 
he  was  opening  and  preparing  a  way  for  his  children  lo 
go  back  to  him.  If  salvation  had  been  offered  at  a 
money  price  it  would  have  been  at  a  high  one,  then 
what  would  have  become  of  his  children  that  are  poor 
in  this  world's  wealth,  how  they  would  have  cried: 
"Oh,  cruel   Father!  how  are  we  ever  to  get  money 


Jesus  269 

enough  to  buy  salvation  that  we  may  have  eternal 
life?  Where  can  we  ever  get  the  money,  Father, 
when  we  can  only  get  enough  to  buy  bread  for  ourselves 
and  family?"  That  would  have  been  the  cry  of  the 
poor,  and  the  rich  would  be  buying  up  their  salvation 
wholesale.  There  are,  we  believe,  thousands  possessed 
of  the  world's  wealth  that  would  lay  their  millions 
down  at  the  feet  of  God  if  they  could  purchase  their  sal- 
vation with  it,  and  still  be  allowed  to  go  on  living 
their  careless,  sinful  life. 

But,  blessed  be  our  God  and  Father!  every  human 
creature,  whether  they  be  black  or  white,  high  or  low, 
rich  or  poor,  must  seek  and  find  their  salvation  in  the 
same  way;  for,  although  it  is  offered  without  money  it 
is  not  offered  without  conditions,  and  the  same  condi- 
tions are  demanded  from  all.  John  the  Baptist  was 
sent  by  God  to  proclaim  to  his  children  the  conditions 
their  Father  was  willing  to  forgive  upon,  and  take 
them  back  to  himself.  The  first  of  those  conditions 
was  repentance  and  baptism  for  the  remission  of  their 
sins.  God's  only  begotten  Son,  the  beloved  of  the  Fa- 
ther, began  his  return  to  his  heavenly  Father's  home 
by  obedience  to  the  conditions  that  God  has  required 
from  every  one  of  his  children.  God  has  required  obe- 
dience from  his  children  since  the  hour  he  created 
Adam,  and  will  to  everlasting  agess. 

Now,  if  Jesus  knew  himself  at  that  time  to  be  the  di- 
vinely begotten  Son  of  the  Father,  the  Prince  of  Heav- 
en, and  destined  to  be  the  future  king  and  ruler  of  the 
world — we  say,  if  he  knew  himself  to  be  that,  then  it 
shows  us  that  he  felt  his  need  of  that  water  baptism, 


270  The  Spirit  Father 

because  he  was  wearing  a  human  garment,  and  he 
brought  himself  down  to  the  level  of  all  the  human  race. 

But  I  do  not  beheve  he  knew  any  more  about  him- 
self, or  what  his  Father  had  for  him  to  do  on  earth,  or 
what  was  in  store  for  him,  more  than  does  any  other 
obedient  child  of  God,  know  to-day  what  he  has  in  store 
for  him.  No  human  creature  knows  what  an  hour 
may  bring  forth. 

The  obedient  spirit  in  Jesus  brought  him  to  the  Jor- 
dan to  be  baptized  of  John,  and  his  Father  looked  down 
from  heaven  and  saw  the  act  and  it  pleased  him.  Now, 
before  we  follow  Jesus  into  the  Jordan  and  on  in  his  life 
work,  I  will  bring  before  the  reader  what  I  truly  believe 
in  my  own  heart  concerning  Jesus.  I  believe  the 
spirit  of  David  was  reincarnated  in  the  infant  flesh  of 
Jesus.  The  spirit  of  David  had  to  be  reclothed  to  work 
out  its  own  salvation  under  the  new  covenant  law. 
David  was  the  one  man,  according  to  God's  own  heart. 
I  believe  David  had  a  pure  and  obedient  spirit  in  him. 
It  was  in  the  flesh  that  David  sinned,  for  under  the  old 
covenant  no  one  could  live  a  spiritual  life. 

God  had  deprived  them  of  that  power.  God  does  not 
deal  with  man  according  to  the  flesh,  but  according  to  the 
spirit.  I  believe  if  we  carefully  read  the  sixty-ninth 
Psalm,  and  note  the  twenty-first  verse,  then  take  Jer- 
emiah, thirtieth  chapter  and  ninth  verse,  then  Ezekiel, 
thirty-fifth  chapter,  twenty-third  and  twenty-fourth 
verses,  then  the  fourth  chapter  of  Hosea  and  fifth 
verse,  that  you  m\\  find  some  light  on  what  I  here  say. 

I  believe  the  coming  royal,  universal  King  will  rule 
under  the  name  of  King  David,  and  it  throws  light 


Jesus  271 

on  many  words  in  the  New  Testament  where  the  name 
of  Jesus  and  David  are  coupled  together.  In  Revela- 
tions it  says  the  root  of  David  hath  prevailed  to  open 
the  book  and  loose  the  seven  seals.  I  believe  the  word 
root  means  the  spirit  of  David,  and  in  the  last  chapter 
Jesus  says  he  is  the  root  and  offspring  of  David.  The 
root  of  every  human  being  is  the  spirit — the  strength 
and  power  of  every  tree  comes  from  the  root. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


JESUS  AT  THE  JORDAN. 


We  will  stand  a  few  minutes  on  the  bank  of  the  Jor- 
dan, gazing  at  the  crowd  gathered  there  to  be  baptized 
of  John,  and  we  see  stepping  out  from  among  them  a 
fine,  princely-looking  young  man.  He  steps  into  the 
water  and  as  we  look  at  him,  we  see  it  is  Jesus  of  Naza- 
reth, the  supposed  son  of  Joseph.  As  he  steps  into  the 
water  John  looks  up,  and  when  he  sees  Jesus  he  for- 
bids him  to  come  unto  him  to  be  baptized,  saying:  "I 
have  more  need  to  be  baptized  of  thee,"  and  we  hear 
Jesus  answering:  "Suffer  it  to  be  so,  John,  for  it  be- 
cometh  us  to  fulfill  all  righteousness,"  and  John  bap- 
tized him. 

Now,  many  believe  that  the  reason  John  forbade 
Jesus  to  come  to  him  to  be  baptized  was  because  he 
knew  Jesus  was  Christ  the  Messiah,  the  Son  of  God; 
but  that  could  not  have  been  John's  reason  for  not  want- 
ing Jesus  to  be  baptized  of  him:  for  John  declares  to 
the  Pharisees  that  were  sent  to  ask  him  if  he  was  the 
Christ  himself,  he  said:  "I  am  not,  but  there  standeth 
one  among  you  whom  ye  know  not;  this  is  he  of  whom 
I  said.  One  cometh  after  me  whose  shoes  I  am  not 
worthy  to  unloose,  but  I  knew  him  not;  but  He  that 
sent  me  to  baptize  with  water  said  unto  me,  Upon 
whom  I  should  see  the  spirit  descending  and  remaining 

272 


Joliu  baptizing  Jesus  in  the  Jordan. 


Jesus  at  the  Jordan  273 

upon,  that  is  he  which  will  baptize  with  the  Holy 
Ghost;  and  I  saw  the  spirit  descending  from  heaven 
like  a  dove,  and  it  abode  on  him." 

And  the  next  day,  w^hen  John  saw  Jesus  coming  unto 
him,  John  said  to  those  around  him:  "Behold  the 
Lamb  of  God,  that  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world!" 
But  when  John  declares  he  did  not  know  Jesus  to  be  the 
chosen  Son  of  God,  as  the  one  that  was  to  be  anointed 
Christ  the  Messiah;  Let  us  remember  John  is  not  say- 
ing he  did  not  know  Jesus  of  Nazareth  as  his  own 
friend  and  kinsman.  For  the  mother  of  John  and  the 
mother  of  Jesus  were  cousins,  and  we  believe  Jesus  and 
John  knew  each  other  well;  and  that  it  was  from  that 
very  acquaintanceship  arose  John's  reason  for  not 
wanting  Jesus  to  come  to  him  for  baptism. 

I  think  John  knew  Jesus  and  knew  him  to  be  a  pure, 
holy  and  good  man,  and  from  what  he  knew  of  him 
and  his  life  he  had  looked  up  to  Jesus  as  his  superior 
and  did  not  feel  that  Jesus  required  baptism  from 
him. 

But  John  knew  that  someone  from  among  those  he 
was  to  baptize  was  to  be  anointed  with  the  Holy  Ghost; 
for  he  was  told  so  when  he  was  sent  out  to  his  work  at 
the  Jordan. 

We  believe  they  knew  each  other  well  as  kinsmen 
and  friends,  but  what  was  to  be  transacted  at  the  Jor- 
dan neither  of  them  knew  anything  about;  for  God 
never  tells  any  one  what  he  is  going  to  do  until  he  does 
it.  He  will  prepare  them  and  get  them  ready  and  the 
moment  he  is  ready  he  will  use  them;  but  not  a  mo- 
ment before. 


274  The  Spirit  Father 

We  look  again,  and  we  see  John  has  baptized  Jesus 
and  he  is  coming  up  out  of  the  water  with  his  head 
bowed  in  prayer  when  he  heard  a  voice  and  looked  up, 
and  "behold  the  heavens  were  opened  and  he  saw  the 
Spirit  of  God  descending  hke  a  dove  and  lighting  on 
him,  and  he  heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying,  This  is 
my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased — hear  ye 
him." 

Jesus  went  down  into  the  water  the  simple  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  son  of  man  by  his  human  birth,  and  he  came 
up  out  of  the  water,  Christ,  the  anointed  Messiah,  and 
beloved  Son  of  God,  by  his  new  spiritual  birth  and  his 
anointing  with  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  Spirit  of  God 
descended  on  him  in  all  its  fullness.  Jesus  was  not 
given  the  Holy  Spirit  by  measure;  but  God  made  his 
beloved  Son  his  own  equal  in  divine  power;  there  was 
the  Father  and  the  Son,  two  distinct  persons  in  one. 
Jesus  was  still  the  same  Jesus,  and  had  still  his  own 
spirit  -wathin  him — the  spirit  child  of  his  Father.  He 
was  to  go  forth  as  God's  Son  to  the  work  that  the  Fa- 
ther had  for  him  to  do;  the  Father  had  vested  him 
with  all  his  own  power.  The  Father  is  a  spirit  invisi- 
ble, but  not  unfelt,  for,  although  none  of  Jesus'  people 
saw  any  outward  change  in  his  appearance,  Jesus  him- 
self felt  the  inward  change,  of  the  power  \\nthin  him, 
and  he  was  going  forth  in  the  strength  of  that  unseen 
power  to  one  of  the  greatest  conflicts  that  had  ever 
taken  place  in  the  world.  He  was  going  to  meet  the 
great  adversary  of  God  and  man. 

He  was  going  to  the  final  contest.     The  Father's  time 


Jesus  at  the  Jordan  275 

had  come  for  the  fulfillment  of  his  promise  that  he 
would  break  the  power  of  Satan  over  the  human  flesh. 
The  spirit  father  had  tried  his  children  in  every  way, 
to  lift  them  out  of  the  hands  of  Satan,  and  out  of  their 
bondage.  But  Satan  had  gotten  such  a  complete  hold 
on  them  that  even  the  most  faithful  were  drawn  into 
hk  power  through  the  lust  of  the  flesh.  So  Christ  was 
going  forth  in  the  human  flesh,  but  in  the  power  of  the 
Spirit,  and  if  Christ  in  his  human  flesh  would  conquer 
Satan  Satan's  power  was  to  be  broken  over  all  the  hu- 
man race  from  that  day  to  everlasting  ages.  For  ev- 
ery child  of  God  who  will  turn  to  their  Father  in  true  re- 
pentance, and  obey  his  commands,  if  it  is  the  true  de- 
sire of  their  heart  to  get  free  from  the  power  and  bond- 
age of  Satan,  then  God  will  know  they  are  in  earnest, 
and  he  will  give  the  spirit  that  dwells  within,  quick- 
ened life;  and  from  that  quickening  it  will  rise  up  in 
spiritual  power  and  conquer  Satan.  The  spirit  within 
will  become  pure,  holy  and  obedient  and  will  subdue 
all  the  lusts  of  the  flesh.  Your  flesh  will  have  to  live 
in  subjection  to  the  spirit,  where  before  the  spirit  was 
living  in  obedience  to  the  flesh.  We  are  not  speaking 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  or  the  Holy  Spirit  and  power  of  God 
being  put  upon  him,  but  the  spirit  child  of  God  that 
dwells  within  every  man  and  woman.  When  we  are 
told  to  let  the  spirit  that  was  found  in  Christ  be  also 
found  in  us,  that  does  not  mean  the  spirit  and  power 
of  the  Father;  it  means  we  are  to  have  a  pure,  holy 
and  obedient  spirit,  such  as  was  in  Jesus. 
When  the  spirit  power  of  God  is  put  upon  any  of  his 


276  The  Spirit  Father 

children  it  is  not  for  their  own  use  they  are  endued  with 
it  is  for  their  Father's  worit. 

Oh,  how  many  there  are  who  think  they  have  been 
anointed  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  that  they  are  pre- 
pared and  called  of  God  to  do  his  work!  They  feel 
within  themselves  the  desire  to  belong  to  God,  and  be 
good,  so  have  turned  to  God  in  prayer  for  help;  and 
God  has  quickened  their  spirit  as  far  as  they  have 
obeyed  him;  but  they  think  from  the  change  they  feel 
that  they  are  able  and  willing  to  go  out  and  preach  and 
teach  others.  This  is  the  first  desire  of  every  one  that 
has  turned  to  God,  and  is  trjing  to  live  a  Christian 
life.  Many  good  men  prepare  themselves  for  going 
out  to  teach  and  preach  the  gospel  when  they  have  not 
even  fulfilled  the  first  act  of  obedience,  repentance  and 
baptism.  But  whatever  mistakes  man  may  make  in 
thinking  himself  fitted  for  his  Father's  work — and  he 
may  prepare  ,himself  in  every  possible  way,  but  if 
God  does  not  think  him  fitted  he  will  never  bestow  on 
him  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  God  will  never 
choose  the  wrong  man  or  instrument,  for  he  does  not 
look  at  the  outside  man  or  his  accomplishments,  but 
to  the  inner  man  and  his  desires  toward  God.  We  have 
so  many  men  in  our  churches,  good  men,  and  good 
preachers,  but  they  have  no  spiritual  power,  they  may 
be  very  sensational  preachers,  and  able  to  fill  large 
churches,  but  they  have  no  power  to  deeply  touch  the 
sinner's  heart  and  win  the  lost;  and  that  is  the  work 
God  requires  of  all  his  chosen  servants,  and  when  he 
chooses  them,  he  anoints  them  with  convincing  power 


Jesus  at  the  Jordan  277 

to  wm  and  bring  back  his  lost  children  into  the  fold, 
and  leaves  them  under  the  care  of  Christ. 

But  only  those  that  live  pure  and  holy  lives  before 
God,  and  in  perfect  obedience  to  his  laws  and  com- 
mands will  God  use,  and  anoint  for  his  service.  God 
has  thousands  of  self-appointed  servants,  but  only  a 
few  chosen  ones. 

But  let  us  stand  a  few  moments  again  on  the  banks 
of  the  Jordan  and  look  on  Jesus  as  he  stands  there, 
after  he  has  come  out  of  the  water  and  has  received 
his  anointing. 

We  do  not  see  that  he  has  grown  any  larger  or 
stronger,  nor  does  he  look  more  fierce  than  he  did  be- 
fore he  went  into  the  water.  He  just  looks  the  same 
gentle,  loving  Jesus,  so  where  is  the  great  strength  and 
power  he  needs  for  the  great  battle  he  has  before  him? 

We  will  look  a  few  moments  at  the  adversary  he  was 
going  to  meet,  that  we  may  have  some  conception  of 
the  struggle  that  was  before  him.  We  all  know  that 
great  men  have  great  names.  So  Satan  was,  and  is,  a 
great  man,  and  had,  and  has,  great  power  in  this  world, 
and  has  a  great  many  titles  to  his  name,  but  his  proper 
name  is  the  Devil.  He  is  known  also  by  the  names  of 
Satan,  Abaddon,  Apollyon,  Beelzebub,  and  Belial. 
He  was,  and  is,  the  prince  and  god  of  this  world  and 
prince  of  the  powers  of  the  air;  and  prince  of  the  dev- 
ils; so  he  was,  and  is,  a  mighty  power. 

Many  ask  us  who  is  the  Devil,  and  where  did  he 
come  from,  and  why  did  God  make  the  devil  to  lead 
people  into  evil?    All  such  questions  have  been  asked 


278  The  Spirit  Father 

of  the  writer  many  times,  not  by  children,  but  by  grown 
men  and  women;  so  we  will  try  and  tell  here,  as  far  as 
our  light  takes  us. 

He  was  one  of  the  sons  of  God  and  lived  in  the  Fa- 
ther's home  in  heaven  with  the  rest  of  the  Father's  fam- 
ily, and  he  may  have  been  the  eldest  and  most  beloved 
of  the  Father  at  one  time;  but  he  was  disobedient  he 
rebelled  and  opposed  his  Father's  authority  and  tried 
to  usurp  the  Father's  rights;  and  when  God  would  not 
allow  him  to  do  so,  he  went  among  the  rest  of  the  fam- 
ily trying  to  get  some  of  them  to  side  with  him,  and  no 
doubt  offered  them  large  bribes  if  they  would  help  him 
usurp  his  Father's  possessions;  just  as  he  tried  to  tempt 
Jesus  thousands  of  years  afterward.  Many  of  the 
household  must  have  sided  with  him,  for  he  raised  a 
rebellion  and  war  in  heaven,  and  tried  to  upset  all  the 
laws  and  government  of  the  Father,  till  the  Father  had 
to  cast  him  out,  and  all  those  with  him  that  would  not 
obey. 

He  was  cast  out  of  heaven  and  down  into  hell.  I  be- 
lieve this  earth,  as  it  was  then,  was  the  hell  he  was  cast 
into;  and  there  he  set  up  his  kingdom  and  his  rule  over 
all  who  were  foolish  enough  to  place  themselves  in  his 
power. 

I  believe  the  great  evil  spirit  of  Satan  lived  and  ruied 
on  earth  through  all  the  old  Bible  times.  Although 
God  had  his  own  people  among  them,  God  permitted 
his  rule  over  them  for  their  disobedience.  But  he  still 
sent  them  messages  and  promises  that  lie  would  again 
reclaim  them.  And  when  Christ  was  tempted  with 
Satan,  I  believe  Satan  v/as  on  earth  in  personality  and 


Jesus  at  the  Jordan  279 

his  angels  other  great  evil  spirits  in  human  garments. 
And  that  after  Christ's  crucifixion,  the  great  evil  spirit 
of  Satan  was  chained  up  in  the  bottomless  pit,  in  the 
depths  of  the  ocean,  but  it  is  chained  up  in  a  body  of 
flesh,  that  is  one  of  the  great  beasts  we  read  of  in  Rev- 
elation, and  the  other  beasts  we  read  of  are  also  other 
great  evil  spirits  chained  up  until  God's  appointed 
time.  Now,  dear  reader,  just  take  your  Bible  and  find 
the  forty-first  chapter  of  Job,  read  it  carefully  and  you 
will  understand;  God  is  showing  Job  where  the  great 
evil  spirit  of  Satan  is  chained  up  in  the  flesh  of  the  great 
Leviathan,  one  of  the  greatest  monsters  of  the  deep. 

I  believe  that  is  the  place  where  God  has  chained  up 
all  the  evil  spirits  that  have  willfully  rejected  God's  offer 
of  mercy  through  Christ.  Remember: — I  mean  those 
that  have  had  the  offer  of  salvation  through  Christ,  and 
had  the  wisdom  and  sense  to  understand  what  they 
were  offered,  and  wilfully  rejected.  There  they  will  re- 
main until  God  calls  the  judgment. 

But  he  has  plenty  of  busy  workers  on  earth  doing 
his  work  for  him  just  as  well  as  if  he  was  here  in  per- 
son, just  as  Christ,  who  is  in  heaven,  has  his  people  here 
working  for  him.  Let  us  see  what  kind  of  character 
Satan  has.  He  was  a  sinner,  he  told  lies  to  Eve,  he 
was  cursed  by  God,  he  is  presumptuous,  proud,  power- 
ful, wicked,  malignant,  subtle,  deceitful,  fierce  and 
cruel;  opposes  God's  work,  tries  to  hinder  the  gospel 
teaching,  perverts  the  Scriptures,  by  trying  to  turn  peo- 
ple from  believing  the  truth,  till  he  blinds  them  and 
gets  possession  of  their  hearts,  by  appearing  to  them 
as  an  angel  of  light ;  but  once  he  does  get  possession  of 


280  The  Spirit  Father 

them,  he  deceives  and  ensnares  them.  He  will  never 
rest  until  he  has  drawn  all  he  can  get  hold  of  under  the 
wrath  and  punishment  of  God. 

And  he  works  lying  wonders  to  try  and  deceive 
those  that  are  really  trying  to  live  for  God,  by  draw- 
ing their  hearts  to  love  the  pleasures  of  the  world  more 
than  God.  That  is  the  character  of  the  Adversary, 
Jesus  was  going  to  meet.  He  is  no  better  to-day,  but 
a  great  deal  worse  and  more  powerful,  for  he  will  leave 
no  means  untried  to  get  possession  and  power  over 
the  Father's  possessions,  for  he  knows  he  has  lost  the 
Father's  love,  and  he  has  lost  his  heirship,  so  cannot  in- 
herit any  of  his  Father's  domains  by  legal  right.  He 
is  holding  illegal  sway  over  all  the  Father's  earthly  do- 
mains through  all  his  followers,  and  servants  he  is 
gathering  in,  in  large  forces,  for  he  will  never  willingly 
give  up  his  rule.  He  knows  there  will  be  one  final  bat- 
tle when  he  must  lose  all  power  forever,  over  the  human 
flesh  that  has  been  redeemed.  And  all  the  unredeemed 
will  be  put  into  the  place  prepared  for  them  with  the 
devil  as  their  king,  and  ruler.  Then  will  begin  the 
weeping  and  wailing  and  gnashing  of  teeth,  when  thoy 
will  look  at  each  other  and  look  at  their  king,  and  see 
what  they  have  brought  themselves  to,  by  neglecting 
God's  offer  of  mercy  when  it  was  in  their  power  to  re- 
ceive it. 

Some  were  too  careless  to  trouble  themselves  about 
whether  they  had  a  soul  to  save  or  not ;  others  wanted 
the  world  and  all  it  could  give  them,  and  were  per- 
fectly satisfied  with  that  life  never  troubling  to  think, 
of  their  future;  others  brought  there  by  their  uicked 


Jesus   at  the  Jordan  281 

desires  and  evil  lives  in  following  the  evil  ways  of  Satan. 
Just  as  you  will  find,  in  going  through  a  crowded  prison, 
some  are  there  for  one  offense,  and  some  for  another, 
but  all  have  broken  the  laws  of  God  and  their  country 
or  they  would  not  be  there;  they  are  all  there  of  their 
own  free  will ;  and  as  every  one  entering  the  prison  is 
clothed  in  garments  according  to  his  offense,  so  will 
those  that  go  to  dwell  in  hell  be  clothed  in  garments 
suited  for  the  place,  and  according  to  the  lives  they 
have  lived  here.  Heinous,  indeed,  will  be  their  gar- 
ments if  the  royal  apparel  that  their  king  is  to  be 
clothed  in  is  the  garment  of  a  serpent.  What,  then, 
will  be  the  garments  of  his  subjects? 

None  will  bear  the  image  of  Christ  our  Lord  and  King 
but  the  redeemed  of  the  Father;  so  whose  image  are  the 
unredeemed  to  bear?     The  mark  of  the  beast! 

Dear  reader,  whoever  you  may  be,  think  about  it, 
you  may  be  one  of  the  careless  ones ;  but  it  is  a  serious 
matter  to  neglect  our  soul's  welfare;  to-day  is  the  time, 
to-morrow  may  be  too  late. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

JESUS    IN    THE    WILDERNESS. 

We  left  Jesus,  in  the  last  chapter,  standing  on  the 
banks  of  the  Jordan,  while  we  looked  at  the  character 
of  the  Adversary  he  was  going  to  meet.  While  he  is 
still  there  we  will  look  at  his  own  character  before  fol- 
lowing him  into  the  wilderness.  Jesus  in  his  human 
character  was  obedient  to  his  parents;  good,  true, 
faithful,  guileless,  sinless,  holy,  innocent,  just,  meek, 
lowly  in  heart,  merciful,  benevolent,  loving,  self-deny- 
ing, forgiving,  long-suffering,  compassionate  and  obe- 
dient to  God  the  Father. 

What  a  comparison  of  the  two  natures !  Dear  reader, 
which  of  the  two  would  you  like  for  your  friend?  for  we 
must  have  eitber  the  one  or  the  other. 

But  how  is  our  gentle,  loving  brother  Jesus  to  stand 
and  overcome  the  outcast,  for  he  will  meet  him  in  all 
his  rage  and  fury,  for  he  knew  if  Jesus  overcame  all  his 
wiles  and  temptations  he  would  be  the  heir  of  all  the 
Father's  possessions;  so  we  can  understand  it  was  to 
be  a  struggle.  But  whoever  is  on  the  side  of  God  and 
right  will  be  on  the  winning  side;  evil  may  hold  sway 
for  a  time,  but  it  has  to  fall.  So  we  can  see  Jesus  bid- 
ding farewell  to  his  friends  at  the  Jordan  before  being 
"led  up  by  the  Spirit  into  the  wilderness"  to  meet  the 
temptations  of  the  devil,  also  to  hold  communion  \nth 
the  Father  through  his  angel  messengers. 

282 


Jesus  in  the  Wilderness  283 

In  the  wilderness  Jesus  fasted  forty  days  and  forty 
nights.  Do  we  wonder  what  Jesus  was  doing  those 
forty  days  and  nights?  Just  what  Moses  was  doing 
the  forty  days  upon  the  mount;  holding  communion 
with  God. 

When  Christ  was  endued  with  the  Father's  spirit 
power,  he  was  endued  also  with  the  Father's  confi- 
dence, and  the  Father  was  trusting  all  he  cared  for  in 
the  world  into  the  hands  of  his  beloved  son. 

The  devil,  his  wicked  son,  had  taken  possession  of  all 
the  earth,  and  all  that  was  in  it,  and  was  holding  sway 
and  rule  over  all  earthly  things,  as  he  is  doing  still,  for 
there  is  no  place  on  all  God's  earth  to-day  that  the  devil 
is  not  trying  to  be  king  and  ruler. 

We  are  sorry  that  he  succeeds  only  too  well,  but  his 
rule  must  end  at  God's  appointed  time. 

What  must  have  been  the  love  of  that  beloved  Son 
for  his  Father,  when  the  Father  took  him  into  his  con- 
fidence and  showed  him  the  condition  of  his  lost  chil- 
dren; and  told  him  how  they  had  all  been  led  away 
by  that  wicked  son  and  brother!  We  think  we  can 
hear  the  Father's  cry,  that  he  did  not  care  for  anything 
in  the  world  but  his  children,  that  if  he  could  only  get 
his  children  back  the  evil  one  could  have  all  that  be- 
longed to  earth  for  the  present.  All  earthly  things 
were  his  children's  inheritance,  and  all  the  heritage  the 
Father  had  on  earth  was  his  children. 

Satan  had  not  only  taken  the  heritage  of  the  children, 
but  he  had  taken  the  heritage  of  the  Father  by  bribing 
the  children  with  what  belonged  to  themselves. 

W^hen  the  Father  created  the  world  and  all  that  is  in 


284  The  Spirit  Father 

it,  all  belonged  to  him,  but  he  did  not  create  and  pre- 
pare it  for  himself  to  live  in;  but  for  the  home  and  in- 
heritance of  his  family ;  but  the  devil  usurped  the  right 
of  all  the  family,  although  he  divides  up  pretty  well 
with  lots  of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  those  that  are  will- 
ing to  help  him  and  work  in  his  service  by  living  away 
from  God,  and  helping  others  to  do  so. 

For  as  long  as  he  can  get  any  of  his  brothers  and  sis- 
ters to  help  him,  he  will  find  some  way  of  helping  them 
to  make  them  believe  they  are  getting  along  finely  in 
the  world,  better  than  those  who  are  living  for  God. 

Oh,  he  is  a  wily  fellow,  for  if  he  could  not  do  that  he 
would  soon  lose  all  his  followers.  But  may  God  open 
the  eyes  of  all  the  deceived  ones  and  may  they  get  out 
of  the  hands  of  the  devil  before  the  day  of  his  doom! 
Every  day  that  passes  over  our  heads  is  bringing  the 
day  nearer  when  God  will  take  possession  of  his  own, 
and  hurl  the  devil  and  all  who  belong  to  him  out  of  his 
kingdom. 

God  will  cleanse  and  prepare  the  earth  again  for  the 
inheritance  of  his  redeemed  children  and  they  will  all 
live  here  again  with  Jesus  as  their  elder  brother  and 
king,  every  brother  and  sister  will  love  and  look  up  to 
him;  for  he  will  be  king  and  ruler  of  every  redeemed 
child's  heart,  and  we  are  only  looking  forward  and  long- 
ing for  the  day  when  he  will  be  our  earthly  king.  Ev- 
ery child  of  the  father  will  have  their  own  portion,  and 
none  will  want  to  usurp  the  rights  of  their  elder  brother. 
We  can  see  Jesus  sitting  in  the  wilderness  listening  to 
the  voice  of  the  father  speaking  to  him,  and  showing 
him  what  he  had  to  do,  and  just  what  was  before  him 


Jesus  in  the  Wilderness  285 

if  he  undertakes  the  commission  the  father  wishes  to 
send  him  upon;  but  the  father  put  no  compulsion  upon 
him.     He  was  left  to  make  his  own  choice. 

After  the  father  had  shown  him  the  condition  of  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  and  shown  him  the  only  way  they 
could  be  redeemed. 

Jesus  had  to  decide  for  himself  whether  he  was  willing 
to  undertake  the  commission.  Do  we  see  any  hesita- 
tion on  liis  part?  No;  the  love  of  that  beloved  .son 
for  his  father  and  the  lost  condition  of  his  brothers 
and  sisters  kept  him  from  taking  one  moment's  thought 
of  his  own  suffering. 

Can  we  wonder  for  a  moment  why  he  is  the  beloved 
of  the  father  and  the  beloved  of  every  one  who  knows 
and  understands  what  he  has  done  for  them? 

We  see  him  again  after  his  forty  days  of  fasting  and 
prayer — it  was  earthly  bread  he  had  fasted  from — he 
had  been  eating  of  the  heavenly  bread,  the  Word  of 
God. 

But  he  again  required  his  human  nutriment,  for  Je- 
sus was  going  forth  from  that  hour  through  all  his 
earthly  mission  just  as  human  as  ever  he  was,  and  just 
as  human  as  any  man  on  earth  to-day;  only,  he  was 
sinless. 

The  devil  knew  Jesus  had  been  holding  communion 
with  the  Father,  and  he  was  watching  for  him,  think- 
ing it  was  his  opportunity,  when  human  nature  would 
call  again  for  earthly  bread;  for  the  first  thing  the 
tempter  said  to  him  was:  "If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God, 
command  that  these  stones  be  made  bread."  But 
Jesus   answered   him:     "Man   cannot  live   by   bread 


286  The  Spirit  Father 

alone,  but  by  every  word  that  cometh  from  the  mouth 
of  God." 

Now,  when  Jesus  gave  that  answer  to  Satan,  that 
"man  cannot  hve  by  bread  alone,"  Jesus  did  not  mean 
that  the  human  man  could  not  live  on  bread  without 
the  Word  of  God,  for  there  are  multitudes  who  live  en 
food  for  the  body,  that  never  taste  of  the  spiritual  food. 
Jesus  was  speaking  of  our  spiritual  nature  and  spirit- 
ual food. 

Then  the  devil  tries  again,  by  taking  him  up  into  the 
holy  city,  to  the  very  highest  pinnacle  of  the  temple, 
and  wanted  Jesus  to  prove  he  was  the  Son  of  God  by 
throwing  himself  down  to  the  ground,  saying:  "If 
thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  it  is  written  the  angels  have 
charge  over  thee,  and  thou  wilt  not  be  hurt."  He 
thought,  by  tempting  Jesus  to  show  his  power,  he 
would  get  Jesus  to  obey  him;  if  he  had  gone  to  Jesus 
and  told  him  to  curse  or  swear,  he  knew  well  he  could 
not  get  him  to  do  it.  But  the  devil  is  like  every  other 
wicked  ruler,  he  likes  to  show  his  power,  and  he  thought 
Jesus  might  like  to  show  his  power,  he  thought  he  could 
entrap  him  into  obeying  him  in  that  wa3^ 

That  was  all  the  devil  wanted;  he  knew  if  Jesus 
obeyed  him  in  one  small  act  he  would  lose  his  power 
over  the  flesh,  and  Satan  would  have  power  over  him 
just  as  he  had  over  Adam. 

Satan  used  the  words  of  Scripture,  but  only  quoted 
a  part — he  kept  saying:  "It  is  written." 

Jesus  soon  let  Satan  know  that  he  knew  the  Scrip- 
tures also,  but  Jesus  knew  it  in  all  its  fullness,    Jesus 


Jesus  in  the  Wilderness  287 

said:  ''It  is  also  written,  "Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the 
Lord  thy  God." 

But  the  devil  again  tries  him  by  showing  him  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  world  and  all  the  glory  of  them,  and 
said:  "All  these  things  will  I  give  thee,  if  thou  wilt 
fall  down  and  worship  me." 

Think  of  Satan's  presumption  in  his  blind  confi- 
dence. He  had  been  able  to  entrap  so  many  he  felt  he 
had  the  power  to  allure  Jesus  also. 

Now,  the  devil  was  not  offering  anything  he  could 
not  give;  for  Satan  had  the  rule  of  all  earthly  kingdoms 
then  as  now.  And  wherever  there  is  a  king  or  queen — 
if  they  are  not  ruling  the  nation  under  the  laws  and 
commands  of  God,  then  they  must  be  the  followers  of 
Satan,  and  ruling  their  kingdom  under  his  power. 
For  all  who  live  on  this  earth  must  be  either  under  the 
rule  of  God  or  of  Satan. 

When  Satan  tried  to  tempt  Jesus  with  the  offer  of 
the  earthly  kingdoms,  and  all  the  glory  of  the  world,  he 
knew  if  Jesus  accepted  them  he  would  only  lose  them 
by  so  doing;  for  if  Jesus  had  faltered  one  step  he  would 
have  lost  both  his  heavenly  and  earthly  reign. 

But  the  father  had  not  let  Jesus  go  out  on  his  com- 
mission without  showing  him  what  he  had  to  meet  and 
contend  with.  So  Jesus  was  prepared,  and  when  he 
was  offered  the  glory  of  the  world,  can  we  not  see  the 
scorn  in  his  eyes  as  he  commands  Satan  to  go  hence; 
and  answering  him  again  in  the  words  of  the  Scrip- 
ture: "For  it  is  also  written:  Thou  shalt  worship  the 
Lord  thy  God,  and  him  only  shalt  thou  serve." 


288  The  Spirit  Father 

When  Satan  found  he  could  not  tempt  him  in  any 
way,  he  left  him,  and  angels  came  and  ministered  unto 
Jesus, 

What  lesson  is  there  for  us  in  this  record  of  Jesus' 
life?  Simply  showing  all  of  God's  children  what  they 
have  to  do,  and  how  they  have  to  do  it.  They  must 
begin  and  live  their  new  life  from  the  moment  they 
have  repented  and  received  baptism  for  the  remission 
of  their  sins,  if  it  was  done  in  the  sincere  desire  for  a 
new  life,  then  they  will  rise  up  in  a  new  life,  and  Satan 
will  know  he  has  lost  his  power  over  them. 

If  we  are  faithful,  God  will  give  us  the  needed  power 
and  strength  to  keep  us  from  falling  into  Satan's  hands; 
but  we  have  to  be  on  the  watch  for  him  every  moment. 

For,  just  as  he  tried  to  tempt  Jesus,  by  showing  him 
all  the  glory  and  pleasure  of  this  world,  so  he  is  trying 
to  tempt  every  child  that  has  left  his  power  and  turned 
to  seek  their  father's  forgiveness.  If  one  has  never 
thought  of  Satan  or  his  temptations  before,  they  will 
soon  know  and  feel  them ;  but  every  one  has  to  do  as 
Jesus  did,  and  say:  "Get  thee  hence,  Satan,  I  will 
have  no  more  to  do  with  thee."  And  when  he  finds 
out,  as  he  did  with  Jesus,  that  we  cannot  be  tempted 
by  him,  he  will  leave  us,  perhaps,  for  a  little  while,  till 
we  think  we  are  safely  out  of  his  power ;  but  that  is  the 
time  he  is  most  active,  and  we  must  be  on  the  watch 
for  him  at  all  times. 

Do  not  let  us  think  for  a  moment  that  when  Jesus 
overcame  him  in  the  wilderness,  and  commanded  him 
to  go  hence,  that  Satan  thought  he  could  nevermore 
tempt  Jesus.     Do  you  think  he  left  Jesus  to  go  on 


Jesus  in  the  Wilderness  289 

quietly  with  his  earthly  life?  Oh,  no;  he  was  the  per- 
secutor of  Jesus  from  that  hour  by  working  through 
the  cruel  hearts  he  had  possession  of,  till  he  entered 
into  the  heart  of  Judas  his  betrayer,  and  never  rested, 
but  followed  his  steps  like  a  bloodhound,  till  he  saw 
him  crucified  and  hanging  on  the  cross.  That  is  Sa- 
tan. If  he  knows  he  cannot  have  his  own  way  he  will 
persecute  us  through  some  of  his  followers.  God  our 
father  will  never  leave  us  without  comfort  and  help  in 
the  midst  of  every  trial.  If  we  are  faithful,  he  will 
send  his  ministering  angels  to  us,  as  he  did  to  Jesus. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 


JESUS  BEGINS  HIS  WORK. 


What  part  of  his  work  had  Jesus  accomplished  in  the 
wilderness?  He  had  accomplished  the  first  part  of 
his  work,  and  to  such  perfection  that  it  fitted  him  for 
all  the  rest  that  was  to  follow.  What  had  he  done? 
He  had  redeemed  his  own  flesh  out  of  the  hands  of 
Satan.  The  first  human  flesh  ever  redeemed  was 
Christ's,  and  he  redeemed  it  himself  by  his  obedience 
to  the  Father's  will.  He  got  the  power  by  his  obedi- 
ence to  overcome  all  the  temptations  and  allurements 
of  the  world. 

That  was  a  glorious  triumph.  He  had  taken  his 
first  step  on  his  return  journey  back  to  the  Father's 
home.  And  he  had  also  taken  his  first  step  into  the 
hands  of  Satan  as  his  persecutor,  for  from  the  hour 
Satan  knew  that  Jesus  had  gained  the  victory  over 
him,  he  became  the  relentless  foe  of  Jesus.  But  we 
will  follow  patiently  and  see  where  the  battle  ends. 

Jesus  heard  that  John  had  been  cast  into  prison,  so 
he  knew  the  time  had  come  for  him  to  begin  his  work, 
and  he  was  going  forth  on  his  mission  with  the  full 
power  and  authority  of  his  father  vested  in  him.  When 
Satan  departed  from  Jesus  in  the  wilderness,  he  went 
back  into  Galilee  and  taught  in  the  synagogues  with 
such  power  that  his  fame  was  spread  through  all  the 
region  around. 

290 


Jesus  Begins  His  Work  291 

He  then  went  back  to  Nazareth,  and  went  into  the 
synagogue  to  read  on  the  Sabbath  day,  as  was  his  cus- 
tom. Some  one  handed  him  the  book  of  the  prophet 
Esaias,  opening  it  he  found  a  passage  referring  to  him- 
self before  he  was  born.  You  will  find  the  words  in 
the  sixty-first  chapter  of  Isaiah,  and  again  in  the  fourth 
chapter  of  Luke.  He  said  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  was 
upon  him,  because  God  had  anointed  him  to  preach 
the  Gospel  to  the  poor:  "he  hath  sent  me  to  heal  the 
broken-hearted,  to  preach  deliverance  to  the  captives 
and  recovering  of  sight  to  the  blind,  to  set  at  liberty 
those  that  were  bruised,  to  preach  the  acceptable  year 
of  the  Lord;"  then  he  closed  the  book. 

Now,  Jesus  declares  that  was  God  the  Father's  com- 
mission to  him;  that  was  the  work  he  had  to  do  for 
the  Father.  There  are  so  many  who  do  not  seem  to 
understand,  or  do  not  have  the  true  meaning  of  what 
Christ's  work  was;  so  let  us  look  closely  into  what  Je- 
sus has  declared  he  was  sent  to  do,  then  we  will  be 
better  able  to  follow  him  through  all  his  work  on  earth, 
from  the  Jordan  to  the  cross.  He  says  he  was  sent  to 
preach  the  Gospel  to  the  jDoor;  that  is,  he  was  to  tell 
them  all  the  Father's  message,  without  money  and 
without  price;  the  poor  were  to  have  the  message  as 
well  as  the  rich;  there  was  to  be  no  respect  of  persons, 
all  were  to  hear  the  message  that  Jesus  was  sent  with 
from  the  Father. 

Then  he  was  to  heal  their  broken  hearts,  for  God's 
children  at  that  time  were  held  in  bondage  to  Satan, 
and  under  the  Roman  power.  He  was  to  preach  de- 
liverance to  the  captives.     Notice  those  two  words, 


292  The  Spirit  Father 

preach  deliverance^  He  did  not  say  he  was  sent  to 
deliver  them  or  to  give  them  deliverance;  but  he  was 
to  preach  deliverance.  That  is,  he  was  sent  to  tell 
them  and  show  them  how  they  could  be  delivered  out 
of  Satan's  power  and  out  of  their  captivity.  He  would 
show  them  the  way,  but  each  one  had  to  deliver  them- 
selves. And  those  that  Satan  had  blinded  would 
receive  light  and  sight  from  the  teachings  of  Christ, 
and  those  that  were  bound  would  be  set  at  liberty. 

He  was  to  tell  them  that  the  acceptable  year  of  the 
Father  had  come.  Do  we  understand  what  he  meant 
by  that?  It  was  simply  that  God  their  father's  time 
had  come;  that  he  was  willing  to  be  reconciled  to  his 
children.  That  was  the  good  news  that  was  to  heal 
their  broken  hearts. 

How  many  sons  and  daughters  in  our  human  families 
have  incurred  their  father's  displeasure,  by  lives  of 
disobedience,  until  their  father  has  had  to  send  them 
away  from  his  loving  care  and  home,  perhaps  for  many 
years,  and  many  of  them  are  living  with  broken  hearts 
longing  for  forgiveness,  but  too  wayward  to  ask  for  it? 
But  a  day  comes  when  the  father  thinks  they  have 
been  punished  enough,  he  has  loved  and  mourned  for 
his  wayward  children  all  the  years  they  have  been 
away;  now  he  is  willing  to  forgive  them  if  they  will 
come  back  repentant  and  ask  his  forgiveness.  He 
sends  a  messenger  to  tell  them,  and  some  believed  and 
turned  back  to  their  father  ^^^th  true  repentance,  and 
were  accepted  again  to  their  father's  love  and  home. 

But  there  are  many  that  will  not  believe,  even  when 


Jesus  Begins  His  Work  293 

their  father  sends  a  messenger  after  them;  they  think 
it  is  impossible  that  their  father  could  forgive  them, 
for  they  know  they  have  been  wicked,  so  will  not 
believe  the  message;  or  they  are  determined  to  go  on 
in  their  own  way. 

Now,  that  is  just  what  God  our  father  sent  Jesus  to 
do;  to  tell  all  his  children,  rich  and  poor,  that  the  time 
had  come  when  he  was  willing  to  be  reconciled  to  them ; 
but  on  his  own  conditions.  And  that  same  message 
was  to  be  carried  to  every  human  creature  throughout 
the  world,  from  that  day  to  the  end  of  the  ages.  Jesus 
was  sent  to  show  the  whole  human  race  the  way  to 
find  deliverance  from  their  bondage  of  sin,  disease  and 
death. 

Satan's  first  power  over  man  is  to  get  him  to  diso- 
bey God  by  committing  sin  of  some  kind;  he  knows 
well  what  kind  of  instruments  he  is  using,  some  are 
fitted  for  the  most  heinous  crimes ;  others  are  more  re- 
fined; some  of  the  most  powerful  instruments  Satan 
has  are  thousands  of  preachers,  men  calling  themselves 
the  servants  of  God,  and  many  of  them  truly  believe 
they  are  in  the  Lord's  service;  when  they  are  simply 
the  blinded  and  powerful  servants  of  Satan,  for  that  is 
one  of  the  devil's  powers — to  blind  God's  servants 
and  get  them  to  pervert  the  Scriptures  by  holding 
back  a  part  of  the  teachings  and  works  of  Christ,  and 
by  doing  so  hide  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  all-conquer- 
ing power  of  Jesus. 

They  are  blinded  themselves  to  what  Christ's  mes- 
sage and  mission  was,  and  there  are  thousands  of  them 


294  The  Spirit  Father 

going  headlong  into  hell  and  drawing  thousands  of 
their  followers  with  them ;  for  they  are  the  most  power- 
ful allies  Satan  has  in  the  world. 

All  the  drinking  houses,  gambling  dens,  and  houses 
of  prostitution,  put  together,  are  not  doing  so  much 
towards  the  hindrance  of  the  cause  of  Christ  and  his 
glorious  mission  to  the  lost  children  of  God,  as  are  many 
of  our  Christians  and  church  life. 

The  reader  may  think  that  is  a  hard  thing  to  say: 
I  only  say  it  because  it  is  true,  for  if  all  who  call 
themselves  Christians,  and  profess  to  believe  in  Christ, 
were  true  to  him,  there  would  not  be  a  saloon,  nor  a 
prostitute  home  in  any  civilized  city  in  the  world.  God 
has  shown  it  to  me,  and  lias  commanded  me  to  write 
it,  or  this  book  would  never  be  before  the  public;  for  I 
have  no  controversy  with  my  brethren. 

Satan  has  his  instruments  in  all  stations  of  life,  just 
as  God  has. 

Sin,  disease,  and  death  are  all  the  works  of  the  devil, 
and  Jesus  came  with  the  Father's  power  to  destroy 
every  work  of  Satan,  by  showing  men  the  way  to  break 
the  power  of  the  devil  over  themselves;  for,  as  soon 
as  they  believe  in  Christ,  they  will  believe  his  teach- 
ings and  turn  to  God  in  repentance;  then  God  will  give 
them  the  power  to  resist  all  the  temptings  of  Satan. 
Then  they  are  helping  to  destroy  his  work  and  power 
on  earth,  and  delivering  themselves  from  the  bondage 
of  sin,  disease  and  death.  We  may  fall  sick  with  any 
ailment  the  human  flesh  is  heir  to,  but  we  will  not  be 
held  in  bondage  to  it;  for  God  has  promised  deliver- 
ance  from  all  diseases  if  we  go  to  him  in  faith  and  on 


Jesus  Begins  His  Work  295 

his  conditions,  and  the  nearer  we  hve  to  God  the  less 
disease  we  will  have. 

When  Jesus  had  finished  reading  and  sat  down,  the 
eyes  of  all  in  the  synagogue  were  on  him  and  he  be- 
gan to  say  unto  them:  "This  day  is  this  Scripture  ful- 
filled in  your  ears." 

Do  we  wonder  that  all  eyes  were  fastened  on  him, 
they  only  knew  him  as  the  son  of  Joseph  the  carpenter, 
who  had  sat  in  the  synagogue  with  them  since  a  child ; 
he  had  been  brought  up  among  them. 

For  him  to  stand  up  and  tell  the  Jews  that  the  Lord 
had  anointed  him  with  power  to  do  all  he  had  said,  and 
to  tell  them  that  they  had  heard  the  fulfilling  of  the 
Scripture!  Jesus  meant  just  what  he  said,  their  deliv- 
erance from  captivity  was  the  fulfilling  of  the  whole 
Scripture;  was  it  any  wonder  that  the  poor  Jews  fast- 
ened their  eyes  upon  him? 

They  were  looking  for  a  great  king  coming  to  give 
them  deliverance  by  fighting  great  battles  for  them, 
and  getting  back  all  their  rightful  possessions  by  vic- 
tories over  their  enemies.  The  Jews  were  bewildered 
and  could  not  believe;  it  was  past  their  comprehen- 
sion, just  as  it  is  past  the  comprehension  of  many 
now,  to  believe  in  the  simple  words  of  Jesus,  God's 
way  was  not  the  Jews'  way  of  doing  things.  They 
looked  on  Jesus  as  presumptuous  and  hated  him  with- 
out a  cause,  and  they  have  never  gotten  over  that 
hatred;  but  that  was  the  devil's  work,  he  had  Winded 
their  eyes.  But  some  of  them  got  light  and  followed 
Jesus.  Some  looked  on  him  with  disdain  and  said: 
"Is  not  this  Joseph's  son?" 


296  The  Spirit  Father 

No  doubt,  if  he  had  been  the  son  of  one  of  the  rich 
rabbis,  they  would  have  been  quite  willing  to  accept 
him. 

Jesus  knew  their  thoughts,  and  said:  "If  they  could 
not  believe  on  him  he  could  not  do  for  them  what  he 
had  done  for  the  people  in  Capernaum ;  for  it  was  their 
faith  that  had  brought  them  their  blessings." 

After  they  had  heard  the  things  he  said  in  the  syna- 
gogue, they  were  filled  with  wrath,  and  they  rose  and 
thrust  him  out  of  the  city.  When  he  left  Nazareth 
he  came  again  to  Jordan  to  the  Gentiles ;  his  own  people 
had  cast  him  out. 

He  brought  the  same  message  from  God  to  the  Gen- 
tiles, and  they  received  his  teachings  and  great  light 
sprang  up  within  their  hearts,  arid  from  that  time  Je- 
sus began  to  preach:  "Repent,  for  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  at  hand."  What  did  Jesus  mean  by  telling 
them  the  kingdom  of  heaven  was  at  hand?  Now,  let 
us  get  the  spiritual  interpretation  of  this,  for  it  is  a 
wonderful  lesson,  and  one  that  all  ought  to  understand. 
When  Jesus  said  this,  he  was  referring  to  the  new  cove- 
nant that  was  going  to  be  enforced  and  scaled  between 
God  and  man.  A  little  further  on  in  his  teachings  he 
tells  them  that  the  kingdom  of  God  is  within  them ;  let 
us  get  the  interpretation  of  this  also,  and  it  will  help 
us  to  understand  many  more  of  his  parables,  in  his 
saying  the  kingdom  of  God  is  within  man,  he  was  there 
referring  to  the  spiritual  seed — the  seed  of  God  within 
the  human  body.  But  it  is  one  thing  for  the  human 
race  to  have  the  kingdom  of  God  within  them  and 
another  thing  for  them  to  be  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 


The  Seal  of  ttie  Covfiiaiit. 


Jesus  Begins  His  Work  297 

Then,  what  was  to  be  the  fulfillment  of  Christ's 
whole  mission  from  the  time  he  came  out  of  the  Jordan 
until  he  died  on  the  cross? 

Christ  was  sent  as  the  extraordinary  ambassador  of 
God.  God  had  sent  other  ambassadors  before  to  make 
covenants  and  treaties  with  his  people.  But  Jesus  was 
a  special  ambassador,  sent  to  prepare  and  make  ready 
for  the  last  covenant  and  treaty  that  God  was  ever 
going  to  make  wth  the  human  race  until  he  called  the 
judgment. 

Now,  before  a  covenant  or  treaty  can  be  made 
between  two  people,  each  should  know  the  full  con- 
tents of  the  agreement  they  are  going  to  enter  upon. 
Well,  that  was  Christ's  work.  From  the  time  he  came 
out  of  the  wilderness  where  he  had  overcome  Satan  and 
received  the  Father's  commission,  he  went  about  tell- 
ing them  upon  what  conditions  the  Father's  covenant 
was  to  be  made  with  them. 

Then  he  told  them  what  they  had  to  do,  showed  them 
what  God  was  willing  to  do  for  them. 

First:  He  told  them  to  repent  and  ask  forgiveness 
of  God.  Then  he  began  showing  them  what  God  could 
do  for  them.  He  healed  the  sick  of  all  kinds  of  dis- 
eases, he  opened  the  eyes  of  the  blind,  he  opened  the 
ears  of  the  deaf,  he  cast  the  evil  spirits  out  of  many, 
he  raised  the  dead,  he  fed  the  multitudes  when  no 
one  could  see  where  the  food  was  to  come  from.  All 
these  things,  and  many  more,  he  did  to  prove  to  the 
people  of  that  age  and  all  ages,  that  the  Father  was 
both  able  and  willing  to  do  all  he  promised  if  they  were 
willing  to  sign  the  covenant  and  live  up  to  their  agree- 


298  The  Spirit  Father 

ment ;  he  would  deliver  them  and  all  their  inheritance 
out  of  the  hands  of  Satan.  The  earth  and  all  it  con- 
tains is  the  inheritance  of  the  children  of  God,  and  it 
will  all  go  back  into  the  hands  of  God's  redeemed  chil- 
dren at  God's  appointed  time.  During  all  Christ's 
earthly  mission  he  was  working  under  the  old  cove- 
nant; he  was  only  preparing  the  papers  for  the  signing 
of  the  treaty,  but  the  treaty  had  to  be  solemnly  rati- 
fied, and  witnessed  to,  then  it  was  ready  for  the  seal. 
And  when  sealed  the  last  covenant  was  made  between 
God  and  man  until  the  judgment. 

But  Christ  had  to  die  before  the  seal  was  put  upon 
the  covenant,  for  the  covenant  was  sealed  with  the 
blood  of  Jesus. 

But  after  it  was  sealed  the  Father  has  allowed  certain 
time  to  elapse,  until  all  his  children  have  had  the  oppor- 
tunity to  hear  and  understand  the  conditions  of  the 
new  covenant,  and  all  that  have  not  signed  the  cove- 
nant with  God  before  that  time  has  expired  will  be 
held  as  rebels,  and  will  receive  the  punishment  God 
has  told  them  would  be  theirs  at  that  day !  Christ  was 
preparing  the  testimony  that  was  to  be  left  to  all  gener- 
ations, but  every  testimony  has  to  have  witnesses 
before  it  can  be  legalized. 

Let  us  see  how  God  prepared  all  things  that  would 
be  required  to  make  his  covenant  perfect  and  binding 
to  all. 

He  first  prepared  John,  and  sent  him  to  witness  that 
Jesus  was  the  Christ,  the  messenger  of  the  New  Cove- 
nant— that  was  before  Jesus  began  his  work. 

When  John  was  asked  if  he,  himself,  was  the  Christ 


Jesus  Begins  His  Work  299 

John  said:  "I  am  not,  but  I  am  come  to  bear  witness 
that  Jesus  is  the  Christ;  he  is  come  to  bring  the  true 
Hght,  and  to  rectify  and  make  right  all  the  mistakes 
and  errors  that  God's  children  have  been  living  under 
in  their  benighted  state  through  all  the  old  covenant 
dispensation.  He  will  bring  them  the  true  light  under 
the  reviving  of  the  spiritual  law."  Before  Jesus  began 
giving  the  Father's  message  he  went  and  chose  twelve 
men  that  he  thought  would  be  honest  and  faithful,  and 
could  be  trusted  to  give  true  statements  of  all  they 
heard  him  speak,  and  saw  him  do.  They  were  to  be 
his  witnesses  after  he  had  finished  his  work;  those  were 
his  twelve  apostles.  And  it  is  from  them  we  have  the 
record  of  all  Jesus  said  or  did  through  all  his  earthly 
mission — nearly  three  years  and  six  months. 

So  we  see  God  had  witnesses  prepared  to  give  testi- 
mony for  Christ,  both  under  the  old  and  the  new  cove- 
nants. He  did  not  leave  a  loophole  where  one  of  his 
children  would  be  able  to  have  any  excuse  for  not  seal- 
ing the  covenant  with  God  for  their  salvation.  Now, 
if  we  believe  we  are  God's  children,  we  ought  to  find 
out  what  our  Father  expects  from  us,  and  what  we 
are  to  expect  from  him.  We  ought  to  make  no  delay 
about  it,  for  how  many,  by  delaying  one  day,  or  one 
hour,  have  lost  their  eternal  salvation ! 

We  may  defer  many  things  for  a  day  or  even  for 
months,  and  there  may  be  no  risk  in  the  delay,  for 
it  might  be  a  matter  of  little  importance  to  us  whether 
we  ever  attend  to  it  or  not;  but  it  is  a  matter  of  great 
importance  to  every  human  creature  that  they  attend 
to  and  look  after  their  soul's  salvation. 


300  The  Spirit  Father 

We  may  send  some  one  in  our  place  to  attend  to  any 
other  matter  for  us,  but  we  cannot  send  any  one  to 
attend  to  the  salvation  of  our  soul,  and  our  entering 
into  eternal  life. 

Every  individual  child  of  God's  that  comes  back 
to  that  Father's  home,  must  seek  for  themselves,  and 
find  their  way  back.     Set  your  face  toward  that  heav- 
enly home  and  follow  Jesus  step  by  step,  and  he  will 
lead  you  right  through  the  gate  of  heaven. 
"The  door  is  ever  open  wide 

To  every  tnie  repentant  child; 

No  one  shall  e'er  be  turned  away 

That  comes  repentant,  to  obey. 

O,  follow  Christ,  O,  follow  on 

He  will  safely  lead  thee  home. 

Lead  thee  safe  through  fields  of  sin 

Home  to  Father,  God,  and  King." 

You  do  not  need  to  wait  till  death  takes  you  from 
this  earth  to  be  in  heaven. 

You  can  live  on  earth  in  your  human  body,  in  what- 
ever station  of  life  you  are  placed — do  your  duty  under 
all  circumstances,  live  your  human  life  in  obedience  to 
God's  laws  and  commands,  but  your  spiritual  life  is 
lived  in  heaven.  Your  treasures  are  there;  your 
beloved  Father  and  Elder  Brother;  and  other  loved 
ones  that  have  gone  from  us,  to  the  Father's  home. 
Our  Father  and  Elder  Brother  are  our  heart  treasures, 
and  we  live  with  them  in  heaven,  every  hour  of  our 
life  on  earth.  Friends  around  us  may  not  see  any  out- 
ward change  or  know  of  our  communion  with  the  loved 
ones  in  heaven;  but  we  know  it  ourselves  and  this  is 


Jesus  Begins  His  Work  301 

our  assurance  that  we  are  the  redeemed  children  of 
God. 

Now,  dear  reader,  let  us  just  talk  together  for  a  few 
minutes;  let  us  ask  each  other  where  we  are  to  go  to 
hear  all  the  things  that  Jesus  told  the  people  when  he 
was  on  earth.  How  are  we  to  know  them?  Naturally 
you  will  say  we  will  go  to  church.  But  I  have  gone  to 
church  forty  years,  my  reader,  and  I  never  heard  any 
one  stand  up  in  the  church  and  say  to  the  people  what 
Jesus  said.  Why,  you  say,  that  is  strange!  Are  not 
the  ministers  there  to  tell  us  what  Jesus  said,  and  what 
we  should  do? 

I  say  I  do  not  know,  I  am  sure;  they  either  do  not 
know  themselves,  and  cannot  tell  us,  or  else  they  do 
not  want  to  tell  us ;  for  I  never  heard  any  of  them  saying 
or  doing  what  Jesus  said  or  did,  if  what  we  read  in  the 
Bible  be  true,  and  the  ministers  say  we  are  to  believe 
every  word,  for  it  is  all  true.  But,  if  they  believe  it  is 
true,  why  do  they  not  tell  it  to  us.  We  do  not  have 
the  time  to  read  like  they  have,  and  we  pay  them 
for  reading  it,  and  telling  us  about  it.  Ah,  my  friend, 
that  is  just  where  they  have  you;  you  do  not  have  time 
to  read  the  Bible  for  yourself,  and  that  is  just  what  the 
ministers  know.  And  some  of  them  do  not  have  much 
time,  either,  when,  like  you,  they  attend  to  all  the 
worldly  things  that  come  into  their  lives. 

Well,  you  say,  what  are  we  to  do?  The  Bible  says: 
"How  are  we  to  hear  without  a  preacher?"  That  is 
just  what  Jesus  says:  "We  cannot  hear  without  a 
preacher,"  but  the  words  mean  more  than  that.     The 


302  The  Spirit  Father 

meaning  of  the  words  are,  that  we  are  never  to  be  with- 
out the  preacher. 

Whether  we  are  inside  a  church  built  by  man,  or  on 
the  top  of  a  mountain,  if  we  have  our  Bibles  wdth  us 
we  have  the  preacher.  Jesus  is  the  preacher  still. 
How  can  that  be? 

Let  me  tell  you.  Open  your  Bibles  and  find  where 
Jesus  is  preaching  and  teaching,  and  when  you  have 
read  the  words,  hear  the  voice  of  Jesus  speaking  to 
you,  as  he  spoke  when  he  was  on  earth  in  his  human 
flesh,  for  he  is  still  with  us  in  spirit.  And  when  you 
have  heard  him  speaking  to  you,  through  what  you 
have  read,  and  believe  it  is  the  message  of  God  to  you, 
then  you  will  understand  what  the  words  mean— that 
faith  comes  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of 
God. 

We  do  not  hear  the  voice  of  Jesus  with  the  human 
ear,  but  with  the  spiritual  heart.  We  can  sit  in  our 
churches  and  hear  our  minister  with  the  human  ear. 
How  much  of  what  Jesus  told  the  people  do  our  minis- 
ters tell  to  us  on  a  Sabbath,  even  if  we  attend  all  three 
services?  Dear  reader,  if  you  go  to  church,  how  many 
ministers  have  you  seen  stand  up  in  their  pulpits,  and, 
looking  over  their  congregation,  say:  "Every  sinner 
in  this  congregation  go  and  repent  of  your  sins  before 
God;  go  and  get  forgiveness,  get  baptized,  and  ready 
to  live  a  new  life,  so  you  can  live  for  God,  instead  of 
hving  for  the  devil." 

That  is  what  we  can  hear  Jesus  telling  us  when  we 
hear  the  teachings  from  the  Book.  When  we  go  to 
church  many  of  us  do  not  take  our  Bible  with  us;  the 


Jesus  Begins  His  Work  303 

minister  gives  out  the  text,  to  be  found  in  a  certain 
book  and  chapter.  And,  as  we  have  not  our  Bible,  we 
do  not  know  whether  it  is  the  words  of  Jesus  or  not. 
We  just  have  to  listen ;  the  minister  mentions  the  verse, 
perhaps  takes  the  first  or  second  clause,  or  whatever 
suits  him  to  give  his  sermon  from,  then  he  goes  on  talk- 
ing on  theology  and  science,  and  gives  many  illustra- 
tions on  man's  work,  and  brings  in  the  words  of  the  text 
many  times,  and  perhaps  many  other  scriptural  words, 
but  they  are  all  so  mixed  up  that  you  have  not  received 
one  distinct  lesson  that  you  can  understand  from  the 
teachings.  So  when  we  come  out  of  church  we  have 
less  light  on  the  matter  than  when  we  went  in;  for 
what  little  light  we  might  have  had  on  the  few  words 
of  the  text  was  lost  by  the  way  it  was  mixed  up.  There 
are  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  go  to  church, 
who  are  earnestly  seeking,  and  eager  for  light,  they  are 
hungering  for  the  bread  of  life;  the  word  of  God;  and 
they  think  they  go  to  the  right  place  to  get  it.  But 
alas!  alas!  they  come  out  hungrier  than  when  they 
went  in.  Remember:  I  am  not  writing  this  as  fault- 
finding with  our  ministers.  For  I  know  many  good, 
noble  Christian  men  amongst  them;  but  I  beheve  this 
is  God's  way  and  time  in  sending  this  book  out  into  the 
world,  to  show  thousands  of  his  children  where  they 
err  in  not  reading  and  searching  the  Scriptures  for 
themselves,  and  have  been  leaving  to  their  ministers 
to  do  what  they  should  do  for  themselves,  and  to  give 
them  enough  light  to  encourage  and  help  them  to  read 
the  Bible  and  search  for  more. 

Now,  dear  reader,  remember  I  do  not  mean  by  what 


304  The  Spirit  Father 

I  have  said  here  that  we  do  not  need  to  go  to  church, 
for  church  is  the  place  for  all  God's  children  to 
assemble,  and  when  we  meet  there  it  should  be  to 
present  ourselves  to  God,  and  offer  up  our  prayers  and 
praises  to  our  Father,  and  to  hear  the  Scripture  read 
and  taught  in  all  its  fullness  and  simplicity,  and  to  give 
testimony  for  God's  glory. 

We  ought  to  try  and  gather  in  all  those  that  have 
not  yet  sought  to  give  themselves  to  God,  no  matter 
how  low  or  how  sinful  we  may  find  them;  that  is,  or 
should  be,  the  work  of  God's  saved  children,  to  find 
their  unsaved  brothers  and  sisters  and  try  to  win  them 
back  to  the  Father. 

Jesus  went  about  telling  them  all  plainly  just  what 
he  had  come  to  do ;  but  he  wanted  a  few  true  friends 
with  him,  and  to  learn  of  him  how  to  be  faithful  to  the 
Father's  commission,  amongst  all  the  perils  and  dangers 
that  were  to  surround  them,  they  would  be  prepared 
to  take  up  his  work  when  the  time  came  for  him  to 
give  up  his  earthly  life. 

So  he  goes  out  to  look  for  the  friends  he  needed. 

While  walking  along  by  the  sea  of  Galilee,  he  sees 
two  fishermen  casting  nets  into  the  sea.  They  were 
Peter  and  Andrew,  his  brother. 

We  do  not  know  that  he  had  ever  seen  them  before, 
but  when  he  looks  on  them  through  his  spiritual 
eyes,  he  sees  they  are  honest  men  and  worthy  to  be 
his  chosen  friends.  He  simply  says  unto  them, 
"Follow  me,  and  I  will  make  you  fishers  of  men." 
I  do  not  believe  they  knew  what  Jesus  meant  by 


Jesus  Begins  His  Work  305 

making  them  fishers  of  men,  but  they  were  willing 
to  obey  him,  and  left  their  work  to  follow  him. 

Only  two  words,  "Follow  me."  The  first  command 
Jesus  gave  in  his  new  life.  0,  what  mighty  words, 
when  they  are  carried  out;  that  command,  simple 
as  it  is,  has  rung  on  through  the  world  over  nineteen 
hundred  years  and  is  still  ringing  out  to-day,  with 
the  same  power  as  when  Jesus  spoke  it  to  Peter  and 
Andrew, 

Jesus  walked  on  a  little  farther  and  saw  James  and 
John,  and  they  immediately  left  the  ship  and  followed 
him.  Then  he  called  Philip  and  Bartholomew, 
Thomas  and  Matthew,  James,  Thaddeus,  Simon 
and  Judas.     And  Judas  was  a  traitor. 

Why  did  Jesus  choose  his  twelve  disciples? 

He  chose  them  to  be  his  witnesses,  his  pupils, 
they  were  to  be  learners  of  Jesus,  but  they  were  also 
to  be  his  friends  and  companions  through  all  his 
earthly  life,  and  they  were  to  prepare,  under  his 
teachings,  to  take  up  his  work  when  he  had  finished. 

When  Jesus  had  called  all  his  disciples  to  him  he 
took  them  with  him  through  all  Galilee,  teaching 
and  preaching  the  Gospel,  and  healing  every  kind  of 
sickness,  and  every  kind  of  disease  among  the  people. 
And  his  fame^went^throughout  all  Syria.  The  things 
Jesus  was  doing  were  told  through  all  the  country, 
and  they  brought  to  him  all  the  sick,  and  those  that 
had  a  complication  of  diseases. 

O,  Lord,  if  the  people  only  had  enough  light  to 


306  The  Spirit  Father 

know  thee  as  their  healer  now,  how  many  bruised  and 
broken  hearts  would  be  soothed  and  healed. 

He  healed  all  they  brought  to  him,  he  did  not 
send  one  away. 

Those  people  simply  believed  he  would  do  all  that 
the  Father  sent  him  to  do,  they  came  to  him  expecting 
to  be  healed  and  he  did  heal  them. 

There  came  and  followed  him  great  multitudes  of 
people  from  Galilee,  Decapolis,  Jerusalem,  from  Judea 
and  beyond  Jordan. 

When  Jesus  looked  around  at  them  he  thought  now 
was  the  time  to  preach  his  great  sermon.  He  saw  the 
grand  opportunity  when  he  had  so  many  different  peo- 
ple around  him;  for  when  there  are  large  crowds,  there 
are  many  different  characters  and  nationalities  among 
them. 

Then  Jesus  went  up  into  a  mountain  and  took  his 
disciples  with  him,  and  there  he  preached  his  great  ser- 
mon to  all  the  world,  and  to  all  generations. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

JESUS'   SERMON    ON   THE   MOUNT. 

We  will  stand  among  the  crowd  around  the  mount 
and  look  on  the  face  of  Jesus  as  he  preaches  his  great 
sermon.  No  doubt  he  has  preached  many  other  ser- 
mons, for  he  has  been  preaching,  teaching,  healing  and 
casting  out  devils  throughout  all  the  country  until  he 
has  gathered  around  him  this  great  multitude. 

This  is  the  first  and  only  sermon  of  Christ's  recorded 
in  all  his  earthly  mission;  but  it  is  a  sermon  if  once 
understood  will  never  be  forgotten.  For  Christ's 
whole  mission  as  the  Great  Teacher,  and  his  dealing 
with  all  kinds  of  characters,  his  showing  forth  the 
Father's  will,  his  love  and  care  for  his  children  is  all 
clear  before  us.  We  often  hear  the  remark  passed 
from  one  to  another  after  hearing  some  great  speaker: 
"What  did  you  think  of  him?"  Maybe  the  answer  will 
be:  "Well,  he  handled  his  subject  in  a  masterly 
manner."  That  is  just  what  Jesus  did  with  his  Ser- 
mon on  the  Mount,  he  handled  it  in  a  masterly  man- 
ner ;  for  he  understood  what  he  was  talking  about,  and 
the  people  he  was  talking  to. 

We  need  not  take  up  all  the  sermon,  for  anyone  can 
read  it  in  the  fifth,  sixth  and  seventh  chapters  of  Mat- 
thew; but  we  will  review  a  few  verses  and  give  the 
light  on  them  that  God  has  shown  us,  it  may  help  you 

307 


308  The  Spirit  Father 

to  find  out  more  for  yourself ;  for  that  is  the  prayer  of 
the  author,  that  every  one  will  search  the  Scriptures, 
and  find  the  way  to  eternal  life. 

We  do  not  want  any  one  to  lose  the  eternal  inheri- 
tance of  their  soul's  salvation,  for  Christ  paid  the  ran- 
som, with  his  life,  on  the  cross,  to  show  the  way  of  sal- 
vation to  every  human  creature  for  their  spirit,  soul 
and  body. 

All  must  be  redeemed  out  of  the  power  of  Satan, 
and  how  can  we  do  that  if  we  do  not  know  the  way, 
and  how  can  we  know  it  if  we  do  not  find  it?  We  will 
try  to  help  you  by  giving  the  light  we  have  on  a  few 
verses  of  Christ's  sermon:  but  do  not  trust  to  what  I 
say,  or  any  one  else  says,  without  searching  for  your- 
self. 

Jesus  opened  his  sermon  \vith  the  words:  "Blessed 
are  the  poor  in  spirit."  He  did  not  say  poor  in 
pocket,  or  poor  in  body,  but  "poor  in  spirit,  for  theirs 
is  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  God  our  father  ^vill  have 
nothing  to  do  ^^^th  the  proud,  haughty,  arrogant  spirit. 
The  child  of  God  must  be  submissive  and  humble  to 
the  father's  will. 

He  says:  "Blessed  arc  they  which  do  hunger  and 
thirst  after  righteousness,  for  they  shall  be  filled."  He 
does  not  say  hunger  and  thirst  after  bread,  nor  after 
drink,  nor  after  the  pleasures  of  the  world;  but  they 
that  hunger  after  righteousness  shall  be  filled. 

That  is  the  reason  so  many  go  hungry;  they  do  not 
hunger  after  the  right  thing;  and  "Blessed  are  those 
that  are  merciful  to  their  fellow-creatures,  God  ■will  be 
merciful  to  them." 


Jesus'  Sermon  on  the  Mount  309 

"Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they  shall  see 
God."  All  sinners  can  see  Christ,  but  only  the  pure 
in  heart  can  see  God,  and  the  pure  in  heart  can  hold 
communion  from  earth  with  their  God  and  father  just 
as  well  as  they  can  with  their  earthly  father. 

"Blessed  are  the  peacemakers,  for  they  shall  be 
called  the  children  of  God,"  And  blessed  are  God's 
children  when  evil  men  revile  them  and  persecute  them 
and  say  all  manner  of  evil  against  them  falsely  for  doing 
the  work  of  Christ. 

And  he  told  them  that  all  the  works  they  were  to 
do  must  be  done  for  the  glory  of  God,  that  he  had  not 
come  to  destroy  the  law  of  God,  but  to  fulfill  it,  not  one 
point  of  the  law  would  be  passed  over;  heaven  and 
earth  would  pass  away  before  one  word  of  God's  law 
would  be  done  away  with ;  for  every  law  of  God  must 
be  fulfilled. 

This  teaching  of  Jesus  on  the  fulfilling  of  God's  law 
I  do  not  think  is  clearly  understood  by  many.  Jesus 
did  not  mean  that  he  had  come  to  fulfill  the  old  Bible 
law,  for  that  was  the  law  of  Moses.  The  law  that 
Christ  was  to  fulfill  was  the  spiritual  law,  the  law  of 
God  that  was  broken  when  Adam  fell. 

The  spiritual  law  and  spiritual  covenant  both  were 
laid  aside,  and  were  not  in  force  through  all  the  time 
of  the  Mosaic  law.  But  when  the  new  covenant  was 
made  the  spiritual  law,  the  law  of  God,  came  in  force. 
And  that  was  the  law  Christ  came  to  fulfill. 

There  was  nothing  brought  over  from  the  old  cove- 
nant law  but  the  ten  commandments  of  God,  and 
Christ  covered  the  whole  ten  by  giving  the  eleventh 


310  The  Spirit  Father 

commandment:  "Love  one  another  as  I  have  loved 
you."  He  was  referring  to  the  natural  and  spiritual 
man  in  one  body — the  two  brothers,  they  were  to  love 
one  another,  and  the  one  was  to  die  for  the  other.  He 
laid  down  his  human  life  for  his  spiritual  life  and  he 
wishes  us  to  do  the  same.  Jesus  said:  "Ye  have 
heard  that  it  was  said  by  them  of  old  time,  'Thou  shalt 
not  commit  adultery;'  but  I  say  unto  you,  that  who- 
soever looketh  on  a  woman  to  lust  after  her,  hath 
committed  adultery  with  her  already  in  his  heart." 
Remember,  Jesus  is  speaking  to  the  whole  human 
race,  married  and  single;  he  is  not  giving  one  com- 
mand for  the  married,  and  another  for  the  single;  all 
men  are  brought  under  the  same  class.  Under  the 
law  of  Moses  the  crime  had  to  be  committed  before  it 
was  counted  sin.  But  under  the  new  covenant  law  the 
desire  of  the  heart  is  counted  sin  before  God  just  as 
much  as  if  the  act  was  committed  and  will  be  punished 
by  God  although  it  is  not  punishable  by  the  laws  of 
our  country. 

Jesus  said:  "If  thy  right  eye  offend  thee,  pluck 
it  out,  and  cast  it  from  thee,"  for  it  would  be  better 
to  have  no  eye  than  that  the  whole  body  should  be  cast 
into  hell.  What  lesson  do  we  get  from  this  part  of 
his  sermon? 

That  it  is  by  the  members  of  our  human  body  that 
Satan  uses  us  in  his  service,  he  may  only  use  one 
member  at  a  time,  but  that  will  be  the  means  of  drawing 
our  whole  body  into  his  service.  He  may  take  our 
eyes  and  make  us  look  on  things  that  are  impure, 
then  our  hearts  hanker  after  the  impure  things  we 


Jesus'  Sermon  on  the  Mount  311 

have  looked  upon,  or  it  may  be  our  ears  he  will  use,— 
to  hear  the  impure  things,  or  our  hands  to  steal;  or 
our  feet  to  lead  us  into  bad  company,  or  to  places 
where  we  ought  not  to  go.  This  is  the  way  Satan 
uses  his  power  over  us.  He  does  his  work  so  cunningly, 
with  such  skill  and  artfulness,  to  blind  men  and  women, 
so  he  can  keep  his  hold  over  them.  He  takes  one 
member  of  our  body  at  a  time,  and  draws  us  in  by 
degrees  until  he  has  the  whole  body  under  his  control, 
then  he  can  use  them  for  some  of  his  most  fiendish 
crimes.  So  Jesus  was  simply  telling  them  that  it 
would  be  better  for  them  to  pluck  out  an  eye  and  cast 
it  away;  and  cut  off  hands,  feet  and  ears  rather  than 
let  the  devil  have  them  for  his  own  use. 

God  our  father  will  take  us  back  without  hands 
feet,  ears,  or  eyes,  if  we  only  ask  his  forgiveness,  and 
live  for  him  until  it  is  time  to  take  us  home,  because 
it  is  not  our  human  body  that  goes  to  the  father's 
home,  but  our  spiritual  body,  to  live  there  with  all 
the  redeemed  in  Christ,  until  the  father's  time  is 
fulfilled,  and  he  sends  Christ  back  to  earth,  and  all  his 
children  with  him,  then  the  spirits  will  be  clothed 
again  in  their  human  garments  so  that  our  hands  and 
feet  will  be  perfect  and  our  bodies  immortal ;  we  will 
never  again  taste  of  death,  for  God  said  when  Jesus 
conquered  Satan,  he  conquered  death. 

And  every  one  now  who  conquers  Satan  and  goes 
back  to  God  in  true  repentance,  obeying  his  command- 
ments, and  beginning  with  the  first  command  Jesus 
gave:  Repent,  and  follow  on  as  Jesus  did  in  perfect 
obedience  to  the  father,  though  that  obedience  cost 


312  The  Spirit  Father 

you  your  life,  you  have  to  put  on  your  immortal  body 
here,  they  may  bury  your  human  body  in  the  grave, 
but  they  cannot  destroy  the  immortal  seed  in  that 
body.  The  seed  is  buried  with  the  body,  and  will 
lie  in  the  ground  until,  by  the  power  of  God,  that 
body  will  spring  up,  when  the  grave  and  the  sea  will 
deliver  up  their  dead. 

Dear  reader,  do  you  understand  what  the  word 
of  the  power  of  God  means? 

Find  it  out,  whoever  you  may  be,  search  his  word 
till  you  find  his  power,  then  you  will  know  that  the 
body  will  come  forth  at  his  command.  If  your  body 
is  buried  a  redeemed  body  it  comes  forth  a  redeemed 
body,  and  Christ  will  be  there  to  claim  it,  it  will  be 
a  celestial  body,  and  will  bear  the  image  and  all  the 
perfection  of  the  heavenly  child  of  God,  the  image 
of  Christ,  pure,  holy,  and  heavenly.  We  will  dwell 
on  earth,  but  will  be  forever  children  of  God.  Satan's 
power  can  never  touch  that  body  more.  We  are  the 
children  of  God,  under  the  reign  of  Christ  our  King. 
But  what  if  your  body  should  be  buried  an  unredeemed 
body  and  the  seed  an  unredeemed  seed;  then  you  will 
rise  up  at  God's  command,  an  unredeemed  body,  and 
who  will  be  there  to  claim  it?  Not  Christ,  for  he  will 
claim  nothing  but  what  belongs  to  him  by  redemption. 
Let  us  understand  right  here  what  this  word  redemp- 
tion means  to  man.  Why  is  Christ  called  our  Redeem- 
er? When  Satan  took  possession  of  the  human  body 
of  Adam,  God  said  he  would  destroy  Satan's  power 
over  the  human  flesh,  and  when  the  battle  took  place 
Christ  conquered  Satan,  he  won  the  battle,  so  it  was  put 


Jesus'  Sermon  on  the  Mount  313 

into  the  power  of  every  human  creature  from  that 
hour  to  free  themselves  from  the  power  of  Satan,  by 
obedience  to  God. 

Jesus'  work  from  that  hour  was  simply  to  show 
man  the  way  to  redeem  himself,  and  by  so  doing  his 
life  ended  on  the  cross.  After  we  are  redeemed  in 
what  way  were  we  to  belong  to  Jesus,  what  power 
would  he  hold  over  us? 

No  power  whatever  except  the  power  of  love,  we 
are  to  be  brothers  and  sisters,  heirs  with  him  to  the 
father's  kingdom. 

All  the  power  Jesus  wanted  over  any  one  was  to  get 
their  love  and  obedience  to  his  father,  our  father. 

And  to  love  hiir  as  our  brother  who  had  freely 
given  his  human  life  in  the  bloom  of  his  young  manhood, 
that  he  might  bring  a  reconciliation  between  the 
father  and  his  children.  All  he  asks  of  us  is  that 
we  believe  on  him,  and  love  him  for  what  he  has  done 
for  us.  O,  Jesus,  how  little  you  ask,  and  how  unwilling 
we  are  to  give  it  to  you.  And  tens  of  thousands,  for 
whom  you  died  to  save,  never  think  of  you;  and  many 
that  are  crying,  "Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ," 
have  not  a  spark  of  love  for  you  in  their  hearts;  for 
they  are  worshipers  of  Baal  instead  of  the  true  God; 
and  they  do  not  know  thee,  thou  beloved  of  the  father. 

We  said,  dear  reader,  if  your  body  arose  on  the 
judgment  day,  an  unredeemed  body,  (that  is,  if  you 
have  died  unsaved,  if  you  have  never  gone  to  God  in 
true  repentance,  and  received  your  father's  forgiveness 
and  your  new  birth,  for  you  must  be  born  again  before 
you   are  one   of  the  redeemed,)  Christ  cannot  claim 


314  The  Spirit  Father 

it  although  he  would  like  to;  for  it  belongs  to  Satan. 
Jesus  will  be  there  to  claim  his  own.  The  unredeemed 
body  will  be  a  terrestrial  body;  that  is,  of  the  earth, 
earthy.  Let  us  see  just  what  the  difference  is  between 
the  celestial  and  terrestrial  body.  The  spiritual  child 
that  lives  in  the  celestial  body  rules  the  body,  and 
they  both  live  together  here  a  spiritual  life,  they  live 
for  heavenly  things  instead  of  the  things  of  the  world; 
they  are  in  the  world,  but  not  of  the  world. 

In  the  terrestrial  the  body  rules  the  spirit,  or  rather 
the  spirit  is  asleep;  for  there  is  no  spiritual  life  in  the 
body  to  keep  it  awake ;  for  all  the  terrestrial  cares  for  is 
the  world,  all  things  earthly  is  their  life. 

Then  we  find  some  who  want  a  little  of  the  things 
of  heaven  and  a  good  many  of  the  things  of  earth ;  but 
that  doesn't  do  for  God's  children.  It  may  do  for  the 
children  of  Satan,  for  he  is  a  thief  and  likes  his  people 
to  steal  all  they  can  from  God. 

But  that  is  not  God's  way,  he  is  just  and  honest 
and  his  children  must  be  honest. 

Let  us  look  for  a  moment  at  God's  just  dealings 
with  his  children,  even  with  the  very  worst,  and  that 
is  Satan. 

Let  us  imagine  that  you  and  I  stand  before  God's 
throne  at  the  last  great  day  with  the  multitudes  that 
will  stand  there,  for  without  a  doubt  we  will  be  gathered 
together,  and  each  will  have  to  answer  to  his  name 
when  the  books  are  opened  and  the  roll  called.  Not 
one  \\nX\  be  missing,  all  will  be  there,  those  who  have 
lain  in  the  grave  for  centuries;  those  who  have  been 
buried  in  the  depths  of  the  sea;  all  from  the  bottomless 


Jesus'  Sermon  on  the  Mount  315 

pit;  Satan  himself.  And  our  beloved  Jesus,  with  all 
the  angels  and  hosts  of  heaven. 

As  we  stand  there  we  see  the  redeemed  and  the 
unredeemed,  and  beside  the  father  are  two  of  his 
sons,  one  on  the  right  and  the  other  on  the  left. 

As  we  look  at  them  closely  we  are  startled,  for  the 
one  on  the  right  is  Jesus,  and  the  one  on  the  left  is 
Satan.  We  wonder  what  they  are  doing  there;  espe- 
cially Satan.  We  cannot  understand  what  business  he 
can  have  there  beside  the  father. 

Well,  let  me  tell  you  what  right  he  has  there;  he 
is  there  to  receive  his  inheritance,  and  that  is  the  last 
time  he  will  be  allowed  by  the  father  to  mix  with 
the  children  of  God.  The  father  had  prepared  a  place 
for  him  and  his  followers  ages  ago,  for  our  father 
cannot  bear  to  have  any  of  his  creatures  without  a 
place  to  dwell  in,  no  matter  how  bad  or  wicked  they 
may  be.  So  he  prepared  the  place  that  was  to  be 
Satan's  inheritance — its  name  hell — and  Satan  has  to 
dwell  there,  unless  he  repents  before  the  judgment. 

You  know  Satan  is  the  son  of  a  king,  therefore  a 
prince  in  his  own  right;  so  he  will  have  both  his  kingdom 
and  his  scepter.  Hell  will  be  his  kingdom  and  there 
he  will  rule  as  king,  but  he  will  have  his  subjects,  and 
all  his  belongings  with  him. 

He  has  been  called  to  his  father's  side  to  claim 
his  own,  and  the  father  is  too  just  to  keep  anything 
from  him  that  is  his  by  right. 

As  we  look  we  see  the  two  books  are  opened,  one 
holds  the  names  of  the  redeemed,  the  other  the  names 
of  the  unredeemed;  and  as  the  names  are  called  from 


316  The  Spirit  Father 

the  book  of  the  redeemed,  Jesus  steps  forward  and 
claims  them  one  by  one  as  his  own. 

Then,  as  we  listen,  we  hear  the  names  of  the  un- 
redeemed called,  and  Satan  steps  forward  and  claims 
them,  they  are  passed  to  him  until  the  last  one  is 
handed  over.  Then  he  is  ready  to  march  off  to  his 
kingdom,  but  we  hear  the  father  say,  wait  a  minute, 
until  they  get  their  garments  changed,  for  they  are 
not  in  the  proper  garments  for  Satan's  kingdom,  none 
ever  go  there  bearing  the  image  of  the  Christ,  the 
spiritual  man,  in  all  his  human  perfection. 

So  God  steps  forward,  and  by  the  word  of  his  power, 
in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  every  garment  is  changed; 
but  not  all  garments  alike,  some  one  kind  and  some 
another.  0,  what  garments,  too  heinous  for  human 
tongue  to  tell,  or  pen  to  write;  (for  all  will  be  revealed 
in  God's  own  time,)  but  every  one  bearing  the  mark  of 
the  beast. 

Now  let  us  look  at  those  Christ  has  claimed ;  they  are, 
every  one,  in  their  own  garments,  made  pure  and 
holy,  all  bearing  the  image  of  Christ  in  their  human 
garments — the  perfect  man.  And  of  God  the  father 
in  their  spiritual  purity.  And  every  one  knowing 
each  other  as  they  do  now. 

Many  say  God  is  cruel  to  send  his  children  to  hell 
with  the  devil,  we  say  no,  he  was  just,  they  belonged 
to  the  devil  and  he  had  a  perfect  right  to  what  belonged 
to  him.  He  had  worked  long  and  hard  to  get  them, 
and  they  had  all  the  ofifer  to  leave  Satan  and  come 
back  to  the  father  and  they  would  not. 

So  God  was  only  giving  to  Satan  what  he  had  promised 


Jesus'  Sermon  on  the  Mount  317 

him,  and  the  father  never  breaks  his  word,  what  he 
says  once  is  said  for  all  time. 

Do  we  wonder  that  the  heart  of  the  father  is  so 
sorrowful,  seeing  so  many  of  his  children  going  of? 
with  Satan? 

If  we  understood  the  mysteries  of  human  life,  from 
the  spiritual  life,  we  would  understand  many  of  the 
mysteries  of  God  that  are  not  revealed  to  sight,  but  the 
time  is  coming  when  God's  mysteries  will  be  mysteries 
no  more,  for  God's  word  says  so.  And  we  believe 
the  time  is  here  when  some  of  God's  mysteries  will  be 
revealed  to  those  whom  God  finds  worthy,  but  only 
for  God's  own  use  and  purposes  and  to  help  them  in 
the  work  God  calls  them  to  do. 

Man  will  never  have  the  secrets  of  God  revealed 
to  him  for  his  own  use. 

Dear  reader,  you  may  be  one  who  believes  God  is 
too  good  and  just  to  send  any  of  his  children  into 
everlasting  punishment,  but  it  is  his  goodness  and 
justice,  and  the  love  he  has  for  his  children,  that  makes 
him  send  Satan  and  all  that  belongs  to  him  away 
to  the  place  prepared  for  him  and  them. 

Let  me  have  a  little  talk  with  you  before  we  go 
any  farther.  You  ask  me,  when  God  our  father  has 
such  power  could  he  not  save  all  his  children  from 
Satan? 

Of  course,  if  they  had  obeyed  him,  every  one  who 
obeys  him  will  be  saved,  but  he  cannot  save  those 
who  will  not  obey  him.  So  it  is  not  God's  fault;  he  is 
not  to  blame  if  we  go  to  hell.  Hell  was  only  prepared 
for  the  disobedient,  and  every  one  of  us  will  be  saved 


318  The  Spirit  Father 

and  taken  out  of  the  devil's  hands  if  we  will  only 
obey. 

That  was  what  God  sent  Jesus  to  tell  us,  that  every 
child  of  God's,  good  or  bad,  he  did  not  send  Jesus  to 
choose  one  here  and  one  there,  but  to  every  human 
creature,  the  message  was  to  every  one  alike  and  to 
whomsoever  was  willing  to  hear  and  obey. 

Now,  dear  reader,  that  message  is  for  you,  have 
you  obeyed  it?  If  you  have  then  you  are  safe,  your 
father  is  able  to  keep  all  that  go  to  him,  but  if  you 
are  one  who  has  never  heard  it,  or  if  you  have  heard 
it,  you  thought  perhaps  it  was  not  meant  for  you.  But 
you  have  heard  it  now  for  I  will  tell  it  to  you,  and  if 
you  have  not  obeyed  God  and  gone  back  to  him,  go 
now;  do  not  delay  another  day  or  hour;  whatever 
excuse  you  may  have  had  before,  that  you  have  not 
heard  or  understood  the  message  of  Christ,  you  can 
never  take  that  excuse  to  God  from  this  hour. 

But  if  you  are  still  unwilling  to  be  obedient,  and  are 
content  to  live  for  and  with  Satan,  you  will  surely 
find  no  fault  with  your  father  when  the  day  comes, 
that  he  must  divide  the  good  from  the  bad,  and  he 
has  set  an  appointed  day  to  do  it,  but  no  man  knows 
when  that  day  will  come,  not  even  Christ  or  Satan, 
but  they  both  know  that  day  will  come.  What  a 
glorious  day  that  will  be  for  the  redeemed,  they  will 
never  more  have  to  mix  up  with  those  who  defile  and 
despoil  this  fair  earth.  There  will  be  no  more  mingling 
with  men  and  women,  cursing,  stealing,  lying,  cheating, 
living  lives  of  defilement,  hidden  from  the  world,  much 
of  it,  but  all  open  before  God. 


Jesus'  Sermon  on  the  Mount  319 

No  more  clubrooms  and  lodgerooms,  where  men  and 
women  go  to  shut  up  their  acts  from  the  world,  they 
cannot  hide  them  from  the  all-seeing  God.  All  things 
that  are  right,  pure,  good  and  holy,  need  no  hiding. 
The  lives  of  God's  children  must  be  open,  and  shine 
as  a  light  in  the  world. 

Dear  reader,  what  will  be  the  difference  in  living 
for  the  devil  now,  and  living  for  him  after  the  judgment? 
If  we  are  wiling  to  serve  him  to  the  best  of  our  ability 
here,  why  should  we  not  be  quite  willing  to  go  with 
him  to  his  own  kingdom  and  serve  him  there? 

Satan  knows  he  has  got  to  go  when  the  day  comes, 
and  he  knows  well  what  that  kingdom  will  be,  and  why 
should  he  not  expect  all  those  he  has  helped  to  have  a 
good  time  in  this  world,  for  he  is  helping  his  own  to 
the  best  of  his  ability,  and  he  has  great  power  to  help 
in  all  worldly  things.  But  what  will  be  the  difference 
when  he  has  to  give  up  his  rule  in  this  world  and  get 
into  his  own  domain?  0,  there  will  be  a  vast  difference 
and  the  first  is,  they  will  have  to  change  their  garments; 
then,  they  will  not  be  as  they  are  now,  mingling  with 
God's  children,  they  will  have  no  neighbors  or  friends 
to  speak  to,  among  the  good  people,  like  many  of  the 
devil's  people  have  now. 

If  we  should  take  a  town  or  city  and  fill  it  with  nothing 
but  wicked  people  and  leave  them  there,  their  lives 
would  soon  become  unbearable  and  they  would  soon 
get  out  of  it. 

That  will  be  all  the  company  they  will  have  who  go 
to  Satan's  kingdom;  they  will  not  need  to  take  any 


320  The  Spirit  Father 

of  their  money  with  them,  that  will  be  left  on  earth 
for  it  belongs  by  right  to  the  children  of  God. 

The  Devil  and  many  of  his  people  are  making  use 
of  it  now.  God  will  take  full  possession  of  it  all  when 
he  takes  possession  of  all  on  earth. 

There  \vill  be  no  change  for  them,  always  the  same, 
every  one  will  have  to  make  the  best  of  their  condition 
for  they  can  never  make  any  change. 

God  will  provide  food  for  them,  even  in  hell  he  will 
not  let  any  of  his  creatures  suffer  for  the  necessaries 
of  life;  but  their  food  will  be  the  food  of  the  prodigal 
son,  the  husks,  though  they  will  not  have  the  privilege 
of  the  prodigal  son  to  return  to  the  father  when_they 
are  tired  of  the  husks.  For  those  who  are  sent  to 
hell  at  the  judgment  day  will  have  to  spend  their 
everlasting  life  there.  They  would  not  accept  a 
change  when  they  had  the  opportunity — for  none  will 
be  sent  there  but  those  who  have  had  the  opportunity 
of  their  salvation  and  refused  it. 

That  will  be  a  part  of  their  torment,  those  who 
have  been  used  to  the  most  dainty  food  will  revolt 
over  eating  the  husks,  but  the  woi-st  of  all  will  be  the 
fiendish  laugh  of  Satan  when  they  go  to  him  to  com- 
plain about  their  food,  and  the  way  they  are  treated. 

He  will  laugh  in  their  faces  and  say,  "My  dear 
brothers  and  sisters,  I  gave  you  all  the  pleasure  and 
good  things  of  the  world  as  long  as  it  was  in  my  power. 
I  gave  you  plenty  of  money,  plenty  of  good  food,  the 
best  the  world  provides,  plenty  of  wine  and  champagne, 
plenty  of  whiskey,  tobacco  and  cigars  of  the  finest, 
balls,  parties,  theaters,  and  debauchery  of  every  kind 


Jesus'  Sermon  on  the  Mount  321 

to  your  heart's  content.  As  long  as  I  had  the  power 
I  gave  everything  to  you,  when  thousands  of  God's 
good  children,  hard  working,  poor  people,  had  scarcely 
enough  to  eat,  but  they  would  rather  belong  to  God 
and  trust  him,  they  knew  the  time  would  come  when 
they  would  be  better  off.  So  that  time  has  come  when 
God  the  father  has  taken  everything  from  me,  and 
shut  me  up  here  along  with  you,  I  cannot  give  you 
what  I  have  not  got,  go  and  eat  your  husks,  and  do 
not  trouble  me;  or  if  that  does  not  suit  you,  get  out  of 
here  if  you  can;  and  every  word  he  speaks  is  garnished 
with  an  oath  and  one  of  his  fiendish  laughs.  But  they 
have  come  there  of  their  own  free  will,  and  there  they 
-have  to  abide  forever — their  doom  is  sealed." 

Dear  reader,  ask  yourself,  are  you  one  of  the  re- 
deemed? Just  let  me  say  a  few  words  to  you  here 
to  give  you  a  thought  that  may  be  of  use  to  you. 

When  we  hear  people  speaking  of  the  love  and 
mercy  of  God,  and  that  he  could  never  be  so  cruel  as 
-the  Bible  says,  for  no  father  could  have  the  heart  to 
do  it.  It  is  not  the  spirit  child  of  God  that  suffers, 
it  is  the  human  child  of  man,  it  is  in  our  flesh  and  con- 
science we  will  suffer,  not  in  our  spirit. 

The  spirit  will  have  no  suffering,  it  will  be  through 
the  conscience, — the  self-knowledge  we  have  of  the 
condition  we  are  in,  and  that  we  have  no  one  to  blame 
but  ourselves.  They  will  see  many  around  them  that 
-they  will  try  to  blame  for  helping  to  bring  them  there. 
Men  will  see  men  who  have  sold  them  drink  until 
they  have  lost  all  their  manhood  and  become  brutes 
in  their  habits  of  life.     Women  will  see  their  seducers 


322  The  Spirit  Father 

and  evil  companions  in  the  sinful  life  they  lived. 
Others  will  see  those  who  have  told  them  lies,  and 
led  them  blindly  away  from  God,  and  all  sorts  who 
have  led  sinful  lives,  but  they  will  be  beyond  remedy 
they  will  have  no  redress  for  their  wrongs,  unless  they 
fight  among  themselves. 

O,  God!  how  many  will  be  there  for  the  murder 
of  their  own  offspring,  and  whatever  they  may  have 
thought  of  their  crime  while  on  this  earth,  they  will 
know  then  that  they  are  condemned  for  their  own 
child's  murder.  Murder  will  be  the  cry  of  their  con- 
science, and  many  will  see  the  very  doctors  that 
helped  them  to  commit  their  crimes. 

O,  God,  give  light  and  understanding  to  the  people 
that  do  not  seem  to  understand  what  they  are  doing. 
They  are  sowing  but  they  do  not  know  what  they  are 
going  to  reap.  No  one  who  commits  the  crime,  or 
any  doctor  who  helps  to  destroy  the  human  seed  or 
offspring,  but  tries  to  hide  it  from  the  world,  and  if 
it  needs  hiding  they  know  it  is  sin,  therefore,  no  one 
can  plead  any  excuse  before  God  of  being  ignorant. 

Jesus  now  speaks  to  them  of  alms-giving.  He  told 
them  if  they  would  give  alms,  that  is  giving  to  the 
poor  or  any  good  work,  if  it  was  done  merely  for  the 
sake  of  the  gift,  to  have  their  names  before  the  public, 
and  their  charities  sounded  abroad,  they  would  have 
no  reward  from  God.  All  we  give  must  be  given  for 
the  love  of  God  and  for  the  love  of  those  we  are 
helping. 

Some  people  give  thousands  to  build  churches, 
homes  and  colleges,  for  the  love  of  making  people 


Jesus'  Sermon  on  the  Mount  323 

sound  their  praises.  Jesus  compares  such  people  to 
the  hypocrites  loving  the  praises  of  men  more  than  the 
praises  of  God. 

O,  how  Jesus  despised  the  hypocrites!  The  poor 
sinners  he  loved  and  pitied ;  but  the  hypocrites  he  could 
not  tolerate.  Pretenders,  professing  before  the  world 
what  they  were  not  living  before  God. 

There  is  nothing  in  all  his  teachings  that  he  warns 
us  so  against  as  the  life  of  a  hypocrite;  for  a  hypocrite 
is  more  displeasing  and  sinful  in  the  eyes  of  God  than 
an  open  offender. 

Then  he  told  them  not  to  pray  as  the  hypocrites, 
for  they  love  to  stand  up  in  the  churches  making  long 
prayers  before  men;  but  it  is  only  the  men  who  hear 
them,  God  pays  no  attention  to  their  prayers,  that  is 
the  reason  they  are  never  answered.  God  never 
answers  the  prayer  of  a  hypocrite,  but  he  soon  answers 
the  prayer  of  a  true  sinner,  if  they  have  a  true  desire 
to  repent  and  obey. 

Then  he  tells  them  they  are  not  to  go  around  with 
long  faces  and  fast  before  the  people  for  the  sake  of 
keeping  fast  days  and  ceremonies.  Going  without  food 
for  days, — for  people  to  think  that  is  what  is  meant  by 
fasting  in  the  Bible,  or  that  such  things  are  pleasing 
to  God,  is  more  than  I  can  understand. 

There  are  times  when  every  child  of  God  fasts  as 
Jesus  did,  when  their  hearts  are  too  full  of  sorrow 
to  eat  even  the  necessaries  of  life. 

But  the  fasting  God  wants  us  to  do  is  to  fast  from 
evil  and  wicked  pleasures  of  the  world,  and  from  unclean 
meats.     He   tells   them   if   their   righteousness   does 


324  The  Spirit  Father 

not  exceed  the  righteousness  of  the  hypocrite  they 
cannot  get  into  heaven.  No  shams  can  get  in  there, 
they  may  get  into  our  churches,  but  they  cannot  get 
into  heaven. 

He  tells  the  hypocrite  to  pull  the  mote  out  of  his 
own  eye,  and  he  would  see  better  to  take  the  mote 
out  of  his  brother's.  He  was  to  change  his  own  life, 
then  he  would  know  better  how  to  help  his  brother 
change  his. 

We  have  to  be  true  to  ourselves  before  we  can  teach 
others. 

He  then  tells  them  they  have  to  ask  for  what  they 
want  from  God  their  father,  and  if  they  will  obey  and 
believe,  their  father  will  give  them  all  they  need  for 
spirit,  soul,  and  body,  for  God's  children  must  have 
their  spirit  fed  as  well  as  their  body.  He  tells  them 
to  beware  of  which  road  they  take,  there  are  only  two 
roads,  one  leads  to  heaven,  and  the  other  to  hell,  but 
Jesus  faithfully  warns  them,  and  shows  the  difference 
between  the  two  roads.  One,  he  says,  is  straight  and 
narrow,  and  we  have  to  seek  around  till  we  find  it,  then 
go  straight  along  till  we  come  to  the  gate;  we  may 
have  many  a  struggle  before  we  reach  it,  but  if  we  keep 
straight,  and  knock  at  the  gate,  the  glorious  vision 
that  will  meet  our  sight  when  the  gate  is  opened  ^\^ll 
repay  us  for  all  our  trials  and  struggles  here. 

The  first  sight  we  see  will  be  Christ  standing  at  the 
gate  to  welcome  us  home.  He  says  of  the  other  way, 
"Broad  is  the  road,  and  wide  is  the  gate  that  leadeth 
to  destruction." 

There  is  plenty  of  room  on  that  road  without  crowd- 


Jesus'  Sermon  on  the  Mount  325 

ing  any  one,  but  when  they  reach  the  gate  and  knock 
they  will  see  strange  sights  behind  that  gate,  but  we 
will  leave  it  to  the  reader's  imagination. 

He  also  plainly  says,  we  cannot  serve  two  masters, 
we  cannot  serve  both  God  and  Satan,  we  must  either 
belong  to  the  one  or  the  other. 

Then  he  shows  his  father's  care  for  all  his  creatures 
by  telling  them  how  he  provides  food  and  water  for 
the  fowls  of  the  air;  and  why  should  his  children  be 
afraid  to  trust  him,  are  not  his  children  more  to  him 
than  the  birds?  He  compares  man  to  a  tree  and  says 
no  tree  can  bring  forth  good  and  evil,  he  means  no 
one  can  be  both  good  and  bad,  we  must  be  either  the 
one  or  the  other. 

He  tells  them  to  look  at  the  very  lilies  of  the  field, 
man  does  not  even  sow  the  seed,  yet  they  grow  in  all 
their  splendor  and  he  sends  the  rain,  and  sun,  and  dew 
from  heaven  to  make  them  grow,  and  clothe  the  field 
in  royal  splendor;  for  he  says,  "Even  Solomon  in  all 
his  glory  was  not  arrayed  like  one  of  these." 

And  when  God  can  so  clothe  the  fields  shall  not  he 
much  more  clothe  his  children. 

He  closed  his  sermon  by  saying,  "0,  ye  of  little  faith, 
seek  first  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and  all  else  shall  be 
added  unto  you."  And  not  every  one  that  cries,  "Lord, 
Lord,"  or  prays  "Lord,  Lord,"  will  get  into  heaven,  only 
those  that  obey  and  do  the  will  of  the  father. 

Many  will  go  about  teaching  and  preaching,  pro- 
fessing they  are  doing  the  works  of  God,  and  will  cry 
unto  Jesus  to  let  them  into  heaven,  but  he  will  say 
unto  them  that  he  does  not  know  them,  and  tell  them 


326  The  Spirit  Father 

to  depart  from  him  for  they  were  workers  of  iniquity, 
hypocrites  going  about  preaching  one  thing  and  living 
another. 

He  says,  "he  that  heareth  what  has  been  said,  and 
doeth  it,  is  a  wise  man;  but  he  who  doeth  not  these 
things  is  a  foolish  man." 

When  he  had  ended  his  sermon  the  people  were 
astonished  at  all  the 'things  he  had  taught  them,  and 
he  had  done  it  as  one  having  authority. 


(5HAPTER  XXXV. 

JESUS    COMETH    DOWN    FROM    THE    MOUNT. 

When  Jesus  had  finished  his  sermon  he  came  down 
from  the  mountain;  great  multitudes  followed  him, 
and  he  began  his  work  again  among  the  sick,  diseased 
and  dying.  That  was  a  part  of  his  commission  from 
the  father.  God  our  Father  was  the  healer  of  his  peo- 
ple from  all  ages,  and  when  he  anointed  Jesus  with 
his  own  power  he  gave  him  the  power  to  heal  all  that 
would  go  to  him. 

We  are  not  told  of  a  great  many  of  Christ's  miracles, 
of  his  work  or  teachings,  but  enough  for  God's  purpose; 
for  we  are  told  if  all  Christ  said  and  did  were  written, 
no  books  could  be  found  to  contain  it.  (Christ  is 
speaking  and  writing  every  day  through  some  of  his 
people.) 

The  first  that  came  to  him  was  a  leper  worshiping 
him,  and  saying,  "Lord,  if  thou  wilt,  thou  canst  make 
me  clean." 

What  do  we  see  in  the  act  of  the  leper  coming  to 
Jesus? 

The  leper  had  heard  Jesus  preaching,  and  telling 
what  his  father  had  sent  him  to  do  for  them,  and 
he  was  there  to  do  it  if  they  would  only  do  as  he  told 
them:  "Repent  and  believe  that  God  had  sent  him," 
He  would  do  everything  for  them  he  had  promise 

327 


328  The  Spirit  Father 

in  the  father's  name  if  they  would  fulfill  the  father's 
conditions.  What  are  those  conditions?  Repent  and 
obey,  believe  and  have  faith,  and  every  promise  of 
God  the  Father  will  be  fulfilled. 

The  leper  shows  by  coming  that  he  belie\'ed  Jesus 
could  make  him  clean  and  whole,  for  he  said,  "Lord,  if 
thou  wilt,  thou  canst  make  me  clean,  and  Jesus  did  not 
hesitate  a  moment;  he  knew  the  man  had  fulfilled  the 
conditions  of  the  promise;  and  Jesus  put  forth  his  hand 
and  touched  him,  saying,  "I  will;  be  thou  clean." 
And  immediately  he  was  cleaned. 

The  next  to  come  to  him  is  a  centurion  asking  him 
to  come  and  see  his  servant  who  was  at  home  sick. 
Jesus  said,  "I  will  come  and  heal  him."  The  centurion 
knew  whom  he  was  speaking  to  for  the  answer  he  made 
to  Jesus  shows  us  that  he  understood  Jesus'  power. 
He  said,  "Lord,  I  am  not  worthy  that  thou  shouldst 
come  under  my  roof,  but  speak  the  word  only,  and  my 
servant  shall  be  healed." 

Do  we  understand  what  the  centurion  meant  when 
he  told  Jesus  if  he  would  speak  the  word  his  servant 
would  be  healed?  The  centurion  believed  Jesus  was 
there  with  the  power  and  authority  of  God  on  him,  and 
that  if  he  would  only  speak  the  word,  the  work  of 
healing  could  be  done  just  as  well  without  his  presence 
as  with  it. 

Now  this  is  just  what  all  God's  children  and  all 
those  that  are  seeking  cleansing  and  healing  for  spirit, 
soul,  and  body,  have  to  be  brought  to  clearly  under- 
stand and  believe  as  the  centurion  did.  That  it  does 
not  need  Jesus  to  be  with  us  in  his  bodily  presence, 


Jesus  Cometh  Down  from  the  Mount  329 

either  to  receive  salvation  or  healing.  Although  he 
is  in  heaven  his  word  and  power  is  just  as  sufficient 
for  every  need  of  the  human  race  as  when  he  walked 
on  earth  in  his  human  body.  For  it  was  not  the 
human  body  of  Jesus  that  was  doing  the  works,  or 
speaking  the  words;  it  was  the  spirit  power  of  God 
upon  him,  and  he  still  holds  that  power  and  authority, 
and  will  hold  it  until  the  father's  time  is  fulfilled. 

And  just  as  God  delegated  the  power  and  authority 
to  Jesus  as  his  son  and  instrument  in  the  human  flesh, 
so  has  Jesus  the  power  and  authority  to  delegate 
power  to  any  other  faithful  son  of  God.  Whenever 
God  requires  a  human  instrument  for  any  spiceal 
world-wide  work,  then  that  man  will  be  able  to  do 
the  portion  of  the  work  he  has  been  prepared  for  and 
sent  to  do.  He  will  do  it  with  spiritual  power  and 
his  work  will  show  it  is  the  work  of  God.  But  all  must 
be  done  under  and  according  to  the  teachings  of  Christ. 
Then  another  will  be  called  and  prepared  for  another 
portion,  according  to  the  father's  will.  One  special 
instrument  will  follow  another,  until  the  fullness  of 
God's  work  is  accomplished,  but  it  is  far  from  its 
fullness  as  yet. 

We  must  have  the  apostles  and  their  power  made 
manifest  on  earth  before  the  fullness  of  the  Gospel 
can  be  taught.  Christ  said  greater  things  than  he 
had  done  would  yet  be  done  by  God  through  man. 

Many  may  be  called  to  give  up  their  life  as  Christ 
did,  but  none  for  the  same  purpose;  Christ's  death 
brought  reconciliation  between  the  father  and  his 
children,  and  brought  liberation  to  the  disobedient 


330  The  Spirit  Father 

spirits  that  were  held  in  bondage  from  the  time  of 
Noe.  And  opened  the  way  of  salvation  to  all  the 
human  race.  Christ  did  that  once  for  all,  when  he 
finished  his  mission  as  the  messenger  of  the  new  cove- 
nant and  gave  up  his  life  on  the  cross,  he  sealed  the 
testament  with  his  own  blood.  No  one  else  can  ever 
take  Christ's  place  in  the  father's  work,  all  Christ's 
work  was  done  under  the  old  covenant  law,  for  the  new 
covenant  law  did  not  come  in  force  until  after  Christ 
rose  from  the  grave. 

Then  all  the  commands  and  teachings  given  to  his 
apostles  in  the  forty  days  he  was  with  them  was  given 
under  the  new  covenant  law,  the  spiritual  law.  When 
he  opened  their  understanding  before  he  left  them, 
they  then  understood  the  difference  between  the 
natural  and  spiritual  law. 

They  had  been  born  and  brought  up  under  the  old 
covenant,  under  the  natural  law,  and  under  permission 
to  live  their  animal  life. 

When  we  read  the  teachings  of  Paul,  we  soon  know 
he  fully  understood  the  change  that  had  to  take  place 
in  their  way  of  living.  Paul  knew  that  under  the 
spiritual  law,  those  that  had  wives  must  hve  as  if 
they  had  no  wives;  they  must  keep  the  marriage  bed 
undefiled.  And  he  fully  understood  Jesus'  teaching 
that  after  the  resurrection  of  their  spiritual  life,  they 
must  live  as  the  angels  in  heaven.  We  must  have 
men  that  understand  how  to  live  that  life,  before  we 
can  ever  have  the  apostles'  power  revived,  but  that 
will  come. 


Jesus  Cometh  Down  from  the  Mount  331 

God  is  preparing  his  instruments  somewhere  in  the 
world,  for  the  work  that  has  to  be  done. 

Many  refer  to  Peter  as  having  a  wife  and  he  was 
an  apostle,  but  those  people  do  not  seem  to  understand 
that  Peter  and  all  the  other  apostles  lived,  and  married 
if  they  had  any  wives,  under  the  old  covenant  law. 
And  they  might  have  had  more  than  one  wife,  but 
there  is  no  mention  of  any  of  the  apostles  having 
wives  with  them  through  any  of  their  work.  Under 
their  apostleship  they  may  have  had  their  wives  or 
helpmates,  but  I  believe  from  the  time  Christ  opened 
their  understanding,  under  the  new  covenant,  they 
lived  the  life  of  celibacy.  I  believe  God  created  man 
and  woman  for  each  other,  the  man  to  be  the  provider 
and  caretaker  of  the  woman,  and  the  woman  to  be 
the  helpmate  and  caretaker  of  his  home,  and  his 
companion  through  life.  And  if  man  had  obeyed 
God,  God  would  have  sent  them  whatever  of  his  flock 
he  had  for  them  to  take  care  of,  in  his  own  way,  but 
that  way  was  not  by  the  defilement  of  their  bodies. 

Under  the  laws  of  civilization  they  must  go  through 
a  public  marriage  ceremony.  God's  true  children 
must  be  brought  to  that  state  before  the  power  of 
Satan  will  be  broken  on  earth. 

Some  may  say  the  world  would  soon  be  depleted. 
Oh,  no,  although  not  one  redeemed  child  of  God's  on 
earth  brought  into  the  world  one  human  garment, 
God  would  find  plenty  of  garments  from  among  the 
children  of  Satan  to  work  out  his  plan  on  earth,  and 
the  sooner  the  children  of  God  are  brought  to  see  their 


332  The  Spirit  Father 

need  of  a  true  consecration  of  their  spirit,  soul,  and 
body  to  God,  the  better  it  will  be  for  God's  work,  for 
the  flesh  that  is  truly  consecrated  to  God  should  never 
more  go  under  the  power  of  defilement.  Many  may 
not  understand  the  full  teachings  under  the  new  cove- 
nant, but  if  they  live  up  to  what  they  understand,  and 
keep  asking  God  to  give  them  spiritual  light  and 
wisdom;  and  search  the  Bible  with  earnest  prayer; 
God  will  give  them  spiritual  light,  and  he  will  open 
their  spiritual  understanding,  then  they  will  be  brought 
to  fully  understand  what  kind  of  a  life  man  was  to 
live  under  the  new  covenant  law. 

But  that  covenant  had  to  be  signed  by  man  as  well 
as  by  God.  The  man  or  woman  that  was  born  under 
the  old  covenant  law,  and  was  living  on  earth  when 
John  went  out  with  God's  command — for  all  to  gather 
at  the  River  Jordan, — when  John  had  them  all  gathered 
there,  all  those  that  were  willing  to  enter  into  the  new 
covenant  God  was  going  to  make  with  man  were  to  go 
into  the  river  to  be  baptized  by  John.  They  were,  by 
so  doing,  symbolizing  their  willingness  to  the  death 
of  the  old  law,  and  the  resurrection  again  of  the  spiritual 
law  over  them.  The  water  stood  as  the  seal  of  their 
covenant  with  God,  but  all  did  not  sign  the  covenant 
with  God  at  that  time,  or  there  would  have  been  none 
to  crucify  Christ.  It  was  those  that  would  not  sign 
the  spiritual  covenant  with  God,  that  were  the  cruci- 
fiers  of  Jesus.  They  wanted  to  remain  in  the  service 
of  Baal, — and  there  their  offspring  are  to  this  day; 
for  we  read  in  the  seventh  chapter  of  Luke,  thirtieth 
and  thirty-first  verses,  that  the  Pharisees  and  lawyers 


Jesus  Cometh  Down  from  the  Mount  333 

rejected  the  counsel  of  God,  and  would  not  be  baptized 
of  John,  And  the  Lord  said,  where  unto  shall  I  'liken 
the  men  of  this  generation,  and  what  are  they  to  be 
compared  to?  Then  he  says,  they  are  like  a  pack  of 
foolish  children  that  do  not  know  what  they  are  refusing. 
The  people  of  this  generation  are  just  as  foolish  and 
blind  that  do  not  sign  their  covenant  with  God  in 
baptism,  for  all  that  do  not  sign  the  baptism  covenant 
with  God  have  no  right  to  ask  for  or  expect  the  blessings 
promised. 

To  those  that  seal  their  covenant,  the  first  bless- 
ing promised  under  the  new  covenant  seal  is  the 
quickening  of  the  sleeping  or  slumbering  spirit, 
the  beginning  of  the  new  birth.  There  are  tens 
of  thousands  of  good  Christian  people  in  the  world 
that  have  never  had  their  spirit  touched  by  the 
quickening  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  therefore 
they  are  only  good  people  humanly  speaking;  they 
have  no  spiritual  life  or  spiritual  power.  That  is  the 
reason  there  is  so  little  spiritual  power  in  so  many 
churches,  they  have  not  entered  into  the  spiritual 
covenant  with  God,  in  God's  way.  Man  may  think 
any  way  will  do,  but  in  this  matter  no  way  will  do  but 
God's  way.  And  there  is  no  one  left  in  darkness  as  to 
God's  way,  for  the  same  Book  that  tells  the  sinner 
of  salvation,  tells  him  how  that  salvation  is  to  be 
found. 

And  the  only  thing  that  is  keeping  all  the  children 
of  God  from  obeying  Christ's  commands  is  the  con- 
troversies between  Theologians,  and  their  difference 
on   the  modes   of  baptism   and  the  ordinances   and 


334  The  Spirit  Father 

ceremonies  in  the  different  denominations.  May 
God  soon  send  spiritual  light  into  their  darkened 
hearts. 

Then  Jesus  and  his  disciples  went  into  a  ship  to 
go  across  to  another  part  of  the  country,  and  Jesus 
lay  down  and  slept.  A  great  tempest  arose,  and  the 
waves  swept  over  the  ship,  so  they  were  afraid  and 
awakened  Jesus.  He  arose  and  rebuked  the  wind  and 
the  sea,  and  in  a  moment  all  was  calm.  Then  he  turned 
to  them  that  were  with  him  and  said,  "Why  are  you 
fearful,  0  ye  of  little  faith?"  He  meant  could  they 
not  trust  God  to  take  care  of  them. 

They  wondered  what  kind  of  a  man  he  could  be, 
when  even  the  wind  and  the  sea  obeyed  him.  His 
disciples  did  not  understand  from  whence  came  the 
power  of  Jesus,  they  did  not  realize  what  the  power 
of  God,  vested  on  man,  meant  at  that  time.  But  they 
knew  after  they  had  been  vested  with  the  spiritual 
power  for  their  apostleship  work,  for  their  spiritual 
understanding  had  been  opened.  That  happened 
after  Christ  rose  from  the  grave  and  the  new  covenant 
law  was  then  in  force. 

Now  here  we  have  another  lesson:  The  majority 
of  people  believe  that  God  sends  all  the  storms  on  sea 
and  land,  and  creates  all  the  disasters  that  we  see  and 
read  about,  when  it  is  Satan  that  is  doing  it  all. 

Let  us  look  at  what  Jesus  had  done:  When  Jesus 
rebuked  the  wind  and  the  sea,  and  that  great  tempest 
was  calmed,  can  we  believe  that  if  God  had  sent  that 
storm  that  was  about  to  engulf  the  ship,  Jesus  would 
have  stood  up  and  rebuked  the  command  of  God? 


Jesus  Cometh  Down  from  the  Mount  335 

He  was  not  sent  to  destroy  the  work  of  God,  but 
the  works  of  Satan.  And  the  devil  is  the  prince  of 
the  power  of  the  air  and  sea,  and  the  prince  and  king 
of  all  things  earthly  in  his  present  regency,  but  he  holds 
his  regency  by  usurpation,  and  will  hold  it  until  the 
father's  time  is  fulfilled,  then  will  come  our  rightful 
prince  and  king  and  take  power  of  all  his  rightful 
possessions. 

When  he  had  come  to  the  other  side,  into  the  country 
of  the  Gergesenes,  there  met  him  two  men  possessed 
with  devils.  They  were  very  fierce,  and  determined 
that  no  man  should  pass  that  way. 

That  is  what  Satan  is  doing,  with  all  the  devils 
under  his  control,  using  them  to  keep  men  from  passing 
into  the  right  way,  that  is  their  work,  and  those  two 
men  are  spoken  of  as  an  illustration  showing  how 
quickly  Jesus  can  clear  the  way,  and  send  the  devils 
where  they  belong.  When  they  saw  Jesus  coming,  they 
cried,  "Jesus,  thou  Son  of  God,  art  thou  come  hither 
to  torment  us  before  the  time?" 

Here  is  another  great  lesson.  Although  the  scribes 
and  Pharisees  did  not  know  Jesus  to  be  the  Son  of  God, 
sent  to  do  the  father's  work,  the  devils  knew  him. 

Old  Satan  may  blind  thousands  as  he  did  the  Jews, 
but  he  cannot  blind  the  devils,  for  the  spirits  within 
them  knew  they  had  disobeyed  their  God  and  Father, 
and  that  their  punishment  awaited  them ;  but  they  did 
not  know  at  what  hour  it  would  come. 

They  thought  Jesus  had  come  to  torment  them.  They 
had  taken  up  their  abode  in  the  men  as  Satan's  instru- 
ments, and  they  knew  Jesus  had  come  to  destroy  all 


336  The  Spirit  Father 

the  works  of  Satan.  So  the  devils  asked  Jesus,  if  he 
was  going  to  cast  them  out,  to  let  them  go  into  the 
herd  of  swine  that  was  feeding  near  by;  and  Jesus 
granted  their  request  and  commanded  them  to  go, 
and  as  soon  as  they  were  in  the  swine  the  whole  herd 
ran  into  the  sea.  The  swine  perished,  but  the  devils 
went  right  down  to  the  bottomless  pit,  that  is  where 
the  swine  carried  them,  into  hell,  the  bottom  of  the 
sea. 

And  when  the  storms  arise,  it  is  the  devils  below 
that  are  doing  the  work. 

When  the  people  saw  what  Jesus  had  done  they  fled 
into  the  city,  telling  every  one  what  they  had  seen; 
and  the  whole  city  came  out  to  meet  Jesus  and  ask 
him  to  depart  from  their  coast.  The  swine  herders 
thought  they  had  had  enough  of  him,  and  Satan 
thought  he  had  let  him  alone  long  enough.  He  had 
let  Jesus  go  on  with  his  work  quietly  for  a  time,  waiting 
till  Jesus  would  do  something  to  anger  the  people. 
So  when  Jesus  destroyed  the  swine,  that  was  Satan's 
chance  to  begin  his  persecution  of  Jesus.  He  did  not 
go  to  meet  Jesus  face  to  face  as  his  persecutor.  For 
Jesus  had  conquered  him  in  the  face  to  face  battle, 
and  he  knew  he  would  have  to  do  his  work  in  some 
other  way.  Satan  never  does  his  work  openly,  he 
does  it  indirectly  through  all  those  whom  he  has  in 
his  evil  power.  He  had  the  scribes  and  Pharisees 
and  hypocrites  all  ready  for  his  work;  he  was  determined 
to  destroy  Jesus  and  his  work  if  it  was  in  his  power 
to  do  so. 

When  Jesus  told  the  sick  after  he  had  healed  them, 


Jesus  Cometh  Down  from  the  Mount  337 

to  go  and  sin  no  more,  and  to  be  of  good  cheer,  all 
their  past  sins  were  forgiven,  the  Scribes  began  to 
say  among  themselves  that  Jesus  was  a  blasphemer. 
But  Jesus  knew  what  they  were  thinking,  and  told 
them  not  to  think  evil  of  him  in  their  hearts,  for  he 
had  come  with  the  power  to  forgive  them  their  sins, 
if  they  were  willing  to  be  forgiven  on  the  father's 
conditions.  No  fear  but  Jesus  kept  the  father's  con- 
ditions in  front  of  all  he  did,  for  the  conditions  had  to 
be  fulfilled  then  just  the  same  as  now.  We  do  our 
part  and  God  the  Father  will  do  his. 

Jesus  and  his  disciples  went  into  a  house— we  think 
it  must  have  been  an  inn,  or  what  we  would  call  a 
hotel,  for  they  were  traveling  all  over  the  country, 
and  they  had  to  eat,  like  other  travelers,  wherever 
they  could  find  a  place  to  supply  their  wants,  unless 
they  had  friends  in  the  place ;  for  we  are  told  that  Jesus 
sometimes  took  his  meals  at  the  home  of  a  friend. 

This  time  Jesus  must  have  gone  to  an  inn,  for  when 
he  sat  down  to  eat,  many  pubhcans  and  sinners  came 
and  sat  down  to  eat  with  him  and  his  disciples. 

We  all  know  that  at  a  hotel  any  one  can  come  in 
and  sit  down  wherever  they  please.  I  believe  that 
was  just  the  kind  of  house  Jesus  was  in  that  day,  and 
that  he  went  there  purposely  to  do  a  part  of  his  work, 
he  knew  all  kinds  of  people  met  there  at  meal  time, 
and  he  would  have  a  good  opportunity  to  deliver 
his  message  to  all  kinds  of  people  at  once. 

When  the  Pharisees  saw  Jesus  among  the  people, 
they  came  to  his  disciples  and  said,  "Why  eateth  yoiu" 
master  with  the  publicans  and  sinners?" 


338  The  Spirit  Father 

They  thought,  as  Jesus  was  a  good  man  and  a 
preacher,  he  should  do  as  they  did,  roll  the  mantle 
of  self-righteousness  around  him,  and  keep  as  far 
away  from  such  people  as  possible. 

O,  how  many,  many  good  Pharisees  have  we  in 
these  days,  who  gather  their  skirts  around  them  for 
fear  they  will  come  in  contact  with  a  fallen  brother 
or  sister. 

But  Jesus  heard  them  and  answered,  "They  that 
are  whole  need  no  physician,  only  they  that  are  sick." 
He  knew  they  did  not  understand  him  although  they 
called  themselves  the  learned  people  of  the  land. 

He  told  them  to  go  and  learn  what  he  meant,  and 
he  would  have  mercy  on  them,  as  they  did  not  know, 
but  he  expected  them  to  learn. 

Jesus  told  them  he  had  not  come  to  call  the  righteous 
but  sinners  to  repentance,  but  he  meant  thej'  should 
learn  that  they  were  sinners. 

I  wish  that  multitudes  of  our  good  learned  scribes 
and  Pharisees  of  these  days  would  learn  they  are  sinners, 
and  repent  before  they  do  more  harm  to  themselves 
and  others  who  believe  in  them,  and  are  following 
their  example. 

Jesus  then  spoke  to  them  of  putting  new  cloth 
into  an  old  garment,  he  said,  "No  man  putteth  a 
piece  of  new  cloth  into  an  old  garment,  for  the  new 
piece  would  only  take  away  from  the  old  garment, 
and  the  rent  be  made  worse."  Then  he  said,  "Neither 
do  men  put  new  wine  into  old  bottles,  else  the  bottles 
break  and  the  \Aine  runs  out." 

Dear  reader,  perhaps  you  may  be  as  I  was  in  the 


Jesus  Cometh  Down  from  the  Mount  339 

years  gone  by.  I  would  think  that  a  strange  thing  to 
be  in  the  Bible.  I  could  not  understand  what  it 
could  mean,  for  I  have  put  many  a  good  piece  of  cloth 
into  my  old  garments,  and  mended  them  up  very 
nicely,  and  had  gotten  good  wear  out  of  them  after- 
wards. 

I  had  often  used  old  bottles  to  put  my  wine  in,  and 
the  bottles  stood  all  right. 

So  I  did  not  know  what  to  make  out  of  that  part 
of  the  teaching. 

But  when  I  came  to  understand  that  Jesus  was 
simply  referring  to  our  human  bodys  as  the  garments 
and  bottles,  then  I  could  fully  understand  the  meaning. 
We  cannot  have  a  part  of  our  old  life,  and  a  part  of 
the  new,  the  new  life  will  rend  the  old  life  to  pieces; 
and  the  new  wine  is  the  spiritual  life  quickened  in 
us,  and  it  bursts  our  old  dead  life  all  to  pieces. 

And  while  he  was  talking,  a  ruler  came  and  wor- 
shiped him. 

All  those  who  came  to  make  any  request  of  him 
acknowledged  him  to  be  the  Christ  by  worshipping 
him  before  they  asked  for  what  they  wanted.  The 
ruler  came  to  tell  Jesus  that  his  daughter  was  dead 
and  he  said:  If  Jesus  would  but  lay  his  hand  upon 
her  she  would  live  again.  Was  not  that  faith?  O, 
fathers,  have  faith  for  your  children,  for  what  Jesus 
could  then  do  he  can  do  now. 

(This  lesson  is  typical  of  spiritual  death  and  spiritual 
life). 

While  on  his  way  to  the  ruler's  house  a  woman  saw 
him,  who  had  been  diseased  for  twelve  years,  and  she 


340  The  Spirit  Father 

felt  if  she  could  only  touch  his  garments  she  would  be 
made  whole;  so  she  got  up  close  behind  him,  and  only 
touched  the  hem,  but  Jesus  knew  some  one  had  touched 
him  in  faith  for  he  felt  the  healing  virtue  flow  from 
him,  and  turning  round  he  saw  her  and  said,  "Daugh- 
ter be  of  good  cheer;  thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole." 

You  see  Jesus  did  not  say  that  he  had  made  her 
whole,  but  that  her  faith  had  made  her  whole. 

Then  two  blind  men  followed  him  crying,  "Thou 
son  of  David  have  mercy  on  us." 

And  Jesus  asked  them  if  they  believed  he  was  able 
to  restore  their  sight  and  they  said.  Yea,  Lord!  Then 
he  touched  their  eyes  and  said  according  to  your  faith 
be  it  unto  you,  and  their  eyes  were  opened. 

We  see  plainly  from  Jesus  words  to  all  he  healed 
that  it  was  not  according  to  the  power  that  Christ  had 
to  heal,  but  according  to  the  faith  they  had  to  receive 
the  healing.  As  it  was  then,  so  it  is  now  Jesus  is  the 
same  and  his  work  is  the  same. 

According  to  our  faith  so  will  it  be  unto  us. 

We  must  have  obedience  and  faith  for  our  salvation 
as  well  as  for  our  healing  but  I  believe  God  grants  many 
bodily  healings  on  the  prayers  and  faith  of  others,  and 
especially  where  people  are  not  fully  enlightened  in 
the  teachings,  but  are  believing  as  far  as  they  know. 

I  believe  God's  time  is  coming  when  the  Gospel  in 
all  its  fullness  must  be  preached  and  taught  to  every 
nation  in  the  universe. 

Every  child  of  God  good  or  bad  must  have  the  mes- 
sage carried  to  them,  that  Jesus  is  the  same  to-day  in 
power,  as  when  he  preached  the  message  from  his  own 


Jesus  Cometh  Down  from  the  Mount  341 

lips.  The  same  Savior,  the  same  Healer,  the  same 
Cleanser,  the  same  Keeper,  the  same  Helper,  the  same 
Friend,  the  same  Son  of  God  our  Father,  the  same 
Elder  Brother,  the  same  yesterday,  to-day  and  forever. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

JESUS       REPROVETH      THE      SCRIBES,      PHARISEES      AND 
HYPOCRITES. 

We  often  hear  the  remark,  "the  gentle  meek  Jesus, 
let  us  learn  to  be  like  him."  Jesus  was  meek  in  spirit 
before  his  father;  and  gentle,  loving  and  kind  with 
every  sinner,  when  they  knew  they  were  sinners  and 
were  willing  to  be  taught.  But  when  he  had  dealings 
with  those  who  called  themselves  the  righteous  and 
the  great  before  the  world, — but  in  God's  sight  var- 
nished sinners, — he  did  not  use  any  gentle  words  when 
he  spoke  to  them.  One  Sabbath  Jesus  and  his  disciples 
were  passing  through  a  field  of  corn,  they  were  hungry 
and  plucked  some  of  the  corn  and  ate  it;  and  some  of 
the  Pharisees  saw  them  and  found  fault  with  Jesus, 
for  letting  his  disciples  do  what  they  thought  was  not 
lawful  on  the  Sabbath. 

Jesus  must  have  shown  them  the  difference  between 
the  old  and  new  covenants:  In  the  old  covenant  they 
were  called  to  keep  one  day  in  the  seven  as  the  Sabbath 
of  the  Lord;  in  the  new  covenant  we  are  to  keep  seven 
Sabbaths  in  the  week;  a  true  child  of  God  cannot  love 
or  obey  God  any  better  on  the  seventh,  than  they  can 
in  all  the  other  six. 

They  were  so  enraged  with  him  for  reproving  them 
that  they  held  a  council  among  themselves  to  devise 

342 


Jesus  Reproveth  the  Scribes  343 

ways  and  means  to  destroy  him.  But  Jesus  knew 
what  they  were  about,  and  denounced  them  saying, 
"Woe  unto  the  Scribes,  Pharisees  and  Hypocrites ;  they 
do  all  their  works  to  please  men." 

Woe  unto  them  for  they  shut  up  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  against  men  by  leading  them  away  from  God; 
they  can  not  go  in  themselves  and  they  do  not  wish 
onyone  else  to  get  in.  Woe  unto  them  for  they  make 
long  prayers  for  a  pretense;  therefore,  for  their  hypoc- 
risy they  shall  receive  the  greater  danmation;  and 
they  would  compass  sea  and  land  to  make  one  convert, 
and  when  he  is  converted  they  make  him  more  a  child 
of  hell  than  a  child  of  God — that  is  the  meaning  of  what 
Jesus  said  to  the  scribes  and  hypocrites. 

He  tells  them  they  dress  and  clean  up  the  outside 
while  the  inside  is  full  of  evil  and  intemperance,  and 
tells  them  to  clean  up  the  inside  first  then  the  outside 
will  be  easily  cleaned.  He  said  they  were  like  whited 
sepulchers,  they  appeared  beautiful  outwardly,  but 
within  they  were  unclean  and  full  of  iniquity,  and  he 
finished  up  by  calling  them  serpents  and  a  generation 
of  vipers  and  asked  them  how  they  expected  to  escape 
the  damnation  of  hell.  That  does  not  look  like  he  was 
the  meek  gentle  Jesus  so  many  tell  people  to  take  a 
pattern  by.  But  after  he  had  denounced  them  in  the 
strongest  language  at  his  command,  he  looked  at  them 
in  love  and  compassion  saying,  "How  often  would  I 
have  gathered  thee  together  and  taken  thee  back  to 
the  father's  love  and  care,  as  a  hen  gathers  her  chick- 
ens under  her  wings;  but  ye  would  not  have  me,  nor 
barken  unto  me." 


344  The  Spirit  Father 

Then  when  he  found  them  in  the  temple  selling 
merchandise,  he  made  a  scourge  of  cords,  and  drove 
them  out,  overturning  their  tables,  and  told  them  to 
take  their  things  out  and  not  make  his  Fathers'  house, 
a  house  of  merchandise. 

His  Father's  house  should  be  the  house  of  prayer. 

As  the  disciples  saw  him  clearing  out  the  temple  they 
remembered  that  it  was  written:  "The  zeal  of  the 
House  had  eaten  itself  up." 

Now  that  is  just  where  thousands  of  our  churches 
stand  in  the  present  age,  they  are  eating  themselves 
up  by  their  zeal  to  make  money  to  keep  them  open, 
they  have  turned  their  houses  of  worship — the  houses 
they  have  built  and  dedicated  to  God — into  houses  of 
merchandise. 

They  hold  bazaars,  socials,  and  all  sorts  of  enter- 
tainments in  the  house  of  God,  and  it  does  not  matter 
who  goes  to  them,  whether  the  children  of  God  or  the 
children  of  Satan,  if  they  only  bring  their  money  and 
buy  the  goods,  they  are  welcome  there. 

That  is  the  right  place  to  get  the  children  of  Satan 
as  well  as  the  children  of  God  if  you  get  them  there  to 
teach  or  preach  the  way  of  salvation;  but  not  to  gather 
them  there  for  the  sake  of  their  money.  When  the 
house  of  God  is  put  to  that  use  then  the  glory  and 
blessing  of  God  have  departed  from  that  church.  They 
may  keep  the  church  open  but  God's  blessing  is  not 
upon  it  and  it  had  better  be  closed. 

I  wish  Jesus  could  come  down  to  earth  now  and  put 
on  his  human  garment  long  enough  to  make  a  good 
scourge  of  cords;  but  I  do  not  want  him  to  come  as 


Jesus  Reproveth  the  Scribes  345 

the  gentle  Jesus  they  are  always  talking  about.  I 
would  like  him  to  come  in  his  war  uniform  and  his 
scourge  with  him,  and  go  through  every  unclean  temple 
in  the  universe  and  clean  them  out:  so  that  the  glory 
and  saving  power  could  fill  every  one  of  them,  for  the 
saving  of  the  lost  in  every  land. 

O,  why  has  the  devil  to  get  the  children  of  God,  my 
brothers  and  sisters,  that  our  beloved  Elder  Brother 
shed  his  blood  to  save!  Something  must  be  terribly 
wrong  in  the  way  God's  work  is  done  in  the  world,  or 
so  many  of  God's  children  would  not  be  hving  in  the 
lost  condition  they  are  in.  Every  true  child  of  God 
should  be  at  war  with  sin  in  whatever  shape,  form, 
place,  or  person  they  find  it. 

Jesus  said  he  was  not  sent  to  do  the  father's  work  by 
making  peace,  he  came  to  make  war;  he  told  them 
they  were  not  to  think  he  came  to  bring  peace  on 
earth  for  he  had  brought  a  sword.  (The  sword  he 
speaks  of  is  the  Word  of  God).  He  came  to  set  man 
against  man,  and  woman  against  woman;  fathers 
against  their  children,  and  children  against  their 
fathers;  and  that  our  enemies  would  be  those  of  our 
own  household. 

Jesus  was  speaking  of  spiritual  warfare:  We  can 
go  into  thousands  of  homes  throughout  the  land  and 
find  that  warfare  going  on.  We  find  in  some  homes 
large  families  of  grown  up  children,  and  in  others, 
only  the  husband  and  wife,  but  in  either  we  can  find 
the  warfare  that  Jesus  is  speaking  of.  In  one  family 
we  might  find  one  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  another  a  member  of  the  English  Church, 


346  The  Spirit  Father 

the  mother  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
and  perhaps  the  father  a  member  of  no  church,  that  is 
a  house  of  spiritual  warfare,  no  unity,  but  a  continual 
strife.     God's  blessing  cannot  rest  on  such  homes. 

We  will  find  more  unity  and  peace  in  the  homes  of 
many,  where  there  is  no  religion  professed  by  any  of 
the  family;  they  live  what  they  call  an  honest  life  and 
they  never  trouble  to  think  whether  there  is  an  after 
life  or  not,  just  let  them  get  enough  for  their  needs  and 
they  are  happy,  in  a  way,  for  there  is  no  spiritual  strife 
amongst  them.  But  they  should  be  brought  into  the 
battle,  for  our  spirit  father  is  the  God  and  father  of 
war,  he  holds  perpetual  war,  he  has  been  at  war  with 
Satan  and  sin  as  far  back  as  Bible  history  goes,  since 
the  hour  Adam  fell  into  Satan's  power.  God  is  at  war 
with  Satan  and  all  his  powers  and  will  be  until  God's 
work  is  accomplished. 

Every  true  child  of  God  and  every  servant  of  his 
must  be  in  the  battle,  until  the  father's  work  is 
finished. 

What  are  the  works  of  Satan?  Sin  of  every  kind: 
no  matter  where  we  find  it,  whether  it  be  in  our  father, 
mother,  sister  or  brothers;  friends  or  foes;  in  the  palace, 
or  the  hut;  in  the  church  or  in  the  home;  wherever  we 
know  there  is  sin  or  wrong  doing  we  must  be  at  war 
with  them  for  their  own  sake  if  we  would  help  to  save 
them. 

You  ask  how  can  we  know  what  lives  people  arc 
living,  we  have  no  right  to  judge  other  people.  Jesus 
said,  "By  their  fruit  ye  shall  know  them." 

No  man  can  be  both  good  and  bad;  wc  must  be 


Jesus  Reproveth  the  Scribes  347 

either  the  one  or  the  other,  we  cannot  serve  two  mas- 
ters, we  must  be  Hving  either  for  God  or  Satan.  But 
through  all  Jesus'  work,  even  when  he  was  denouncing 
them  he  was  full  of  love  and  compassion.  He  was 
showing  them  what  they  were  and  pleading  with  them 
to  love  him  and  beheve  on  him:  for  he  had  not  come 
to  do  the  works  he  was  doing,  and  say  the  things  he 
was  saying,  for  his  own  sake.  That  he  was  sent  by  the 
Father,  and  if  they  could  not  believe  on  him  for  his 
own  sake,  to  believe  on  him  for  the  works  they  had 
seen  him  do. 

They  could  not  do  that,  for  Satan  had  them  in  his 
power;  and  they  were  both  blind  and  deaf  to  spiritual 
teachings,  and  the  more  they  saw  of  his  work  among 
the  sinful  and  sick;  and  saw  the  great  multitudes  that 
followed  him;  and  how  kind  and  good  he  was  to  the 
poor  and  lost,  they  hated  him  the  more,  and  were 
determined  to  destroy  him  and  put  an  end  to  his  work. 
For  they  thought  if  they  could  only  put  him  out  of  the 
way  that  would  finish  his  work. 

When  the  disciples  came  and  told  Jesus  that  the 
Pharisees  were  offended  at  his  sayings,  he  said,  "Let 
them  alone,  they  are  the  blind  leading  the  blind,  and 
if  the  blind  lead  the  blind,  both  will  fall  into  the  ditch 
together." — That  is  just  what  is  the  matter  with  so 
many  of  our  teachers,  they  are  spiritually  blind,  and 
those  they  are  teaching  are  getting  no  light,  so  both 
will  fall  into  the  ditch. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

FATHEK    AND    SON. 

Jesus  said:  "Father  I  thank  thee  that  thou  hast 
hidden  these  things  from  the  wise,  and  revealed  them 
unto  the  babes;  for  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight  to 
do  so." 

Do  we  wonder  why  Jesus  was  glad  that  the  father 
had  hidden  his  spiritual  teachings  from  the  learned  and 
wise,  and  revealed  it  to  the  unlearned. 

Jesus  knew  it  would  be  easier  to  teach  the  unlearned, 
than  those  that  call  themselves  the  great  and  learned 
people  of  the  ages;  for  the  learned  people  have  much 
to  unlearn,  before  they  can  be  taught  of  God. 

Jesus  was  calling  himself  one  of  the  unlearned,  for 
when  he  was  teaching  in  the  synagogue,  the  Jews 
wondered  how  he  knew  all  things  he  taught, — being 
unlearned, — but  we  have  all  to  be  babes  and  realize 
we  know  nothing  before  we  can  be  taught  of  God. 
We  must  all  be  fed  on  the  spiritual  milk  before  we  can 
have  spiritual  bread. 

Again  Jesus  says:  All  things  were  delivered  unto 
him  from  the  Father.  He  did  not  need  learning  to 
hear  the  Father  speaking  to  him.  His  Father  told 
him  all  he  had  to  do,  gave  him  his  message  while  he 
was  in  the  wilderness,  and  he  came  right  from  the 
Father's  teacliing,  after  overcoming  Satan,  and  began 

348 


Father  and  Son  349 

doing  just  what  the  Father  told  him  and  kept  on  doing 
it  in  defiance  of  all  his  foes. 

As  it  was  with  Jesus,  so  must  it  be  with  all,  we  do  not 
need  great  learning  to  hear  what  Jesus  is  saying  to 
us  when  we  hear  it  from  his  own  lips;  if  we  believe  the 
words  in  the  Bible  are  Jesus'  own  teaching,  and  were 
really  spoken  by  him  when  he  was  on  earth ;  then  when 
we  read  them  it  is  just  as  if  they  were  spoken  to  us  from 
the  lips  of  Jesus;  and  we  ought  to  do  just  as  he  did — 
begin  and  do  as  he  has  taught  us,  and  keep  on  doing 
in  defiance  of  everything  on  earth. 

That  is  what  we  have  to  do  if  we  want  to  return  to 
the  Father's  home.  Jesus  would  never  have  gone 
back  to  where  he  is  now,  at  the  right  hand  of  his 
Father,  if  he  had  faltered  of  turned  to  the  right  or  the 
left.  We  went  straight  on  and  conquered,  Jesus  says 
"No  man  knoweth  the  Father  except  the  son,  and 
those  to  whom  the  son  will  reveal  him." 

Those  few  words  I  would  like  to  draw  the  reader's 
attention  to :  You  will  find  them  in  Matthew,  eleventh 
chapter  and  twenty-seventh  verse.  Jesus  says,  "No 
man  knoweth  theFather  but  the  son."  Jesus  is  speaking 
of  himself  as  the  son;  but  he  says  also  that  he  will 
reveal  the  Father  to  others. 

Those  words  teach  us  that  he  will  lead  men  and 
women  into  the  very  presence  of  their  God  and  Father, 
and  those  words  apply  to  both  present  and  future. 

I  believe  there  are  men  and  women  in  the  world  at 
the  present  time,  that  Jesus  has  led  into  the  very 
presence  of  God.  Those  to  whom  Jesus  has  revealed 
the  Father  know  and  are  as  sure  they  have  a  spirit 


350  The  Spirit  Father 

father  in  the  heavens,  as  that  they  have  a  human 
father  on  earth,  and  they  can  speak  as  well  to  him  in 
heaven,  as  they  can  speak  to  their  human  father  on 
earth.  Jesus  tells  us,  no  man  or  woman  can  go  to  him 
except  the  father  give  them  to  him.  When  Jesus 
said  these  words  many  of  his  disciples  and  followers 
left  him,  and  went  back  to  their  old  ways:  When 
Jesus  saw  this  he  turned  to  the  twelve  disciples,  and 
asked  them,  if  they  also  would  leave  him. 

And  Peter  answered:  "To  whom  shall  we  go,  thou 
alone  hast  eternal  life,  and  we  believe  and  are  sure 
that  thou  art  the  Christ  the  son  of  the  living  God." 

Jesus  said,  "I  have  chosen  twelve  of  you  to  be  my 
friends;  but  one  of  you  is  a  devil."  Jesus  knew  their 
hearts,  Judas,  perhaps  looked  as  clean  and  well  as 
any  of  the  other  disciples  outside,  but  the  inside  (the 
heart)  belonged  to  Satan,  and  would  be  of  use  to  him 
when  the  right  time  came. 

Now  what  lesson  do  we  get  from  Jesus  saying,  No 
man  can  go  to  him  except  the  father  giveth  him,  and 
those  the  father  giveth  to  him,  no  man  can  pluck  out 
of  his  hands.  That  is  where  multitudes  are  living  in 
blindness;  they  think  they  have  just  to  believe  on  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  love  him  and  serve  him  as  they  think 
right  or  as  it  suits  them.  Jesus  was  simply  telling 
them,  no  man  could  belong  to  him  unless  they  repented 
and  went  to  God  and  found  forgiveness,  and  were  will- 
ing to  obey  God  and  live  new  lives.  After  Jesus  told 
them,  those  that  were  not  willing  to  obey  turned  back 
because  they  were  not  willing  to  give  up  their  old 
lives.     They  thought  they  could  follow  Jesus  and  get 


Father  and  Son  351 

the  blessings  he  told  of  if  they  made  an  outward 
pretense. 

But  Jesus  knew  them  and  when  he  laid  the  matter 
plainly  before  them  they  had  either  to  do  as  he  told 
them,  or  give  up  following  him.  Jesus  knew  they 
were  not  his  unless  they  obeyed  God,  and  he  did  not 
want  a  lot  of  followers  that  the  devil  could  come  along 
and  pluck  out  of  his  hands.  The  father  must  first 
be  satisfied  that  we  have  come  in  true  repentance  and 
received  His  forgiveness,  and  that  we  are  willing  to 
obey,  by  beginning  where  Christ  begun.  The  father 
must  be  assured  of  that  before  He  will  give  one  of  his 
children  to  Christ  as  one  of  his  flock. 

And  when  we  are  given  over  to  Jesus,  he  is  able  and 
willing  to  keep  us,  he  will  love,  teach,  and  comfort  us 
if  we  obey  him. 

Many  think  it  is  their  love  and  faith  in  Jesus  that  is 
to  save  them.  O,  dear  reader,  neither  faith  nor  love 
will  save  any  one's  spirit,  soul  or  body,  and  the  one 
cannot  be  saved  without  the  other,  all  must  go  to- 
gether. But  those  who  pass  from  the  father  to  the 
son  Jesus  can  keep  in  perfect  safety,  and  Satan  cannot 
pluck  one  out  of  his  hand.  The  Father  will  not  give 
any  one  to  Jesus  until  they  have  sealed  their  covenant 
with  him;  but  many  do  not  understand  Jesus'  teach- 
ings, but  he  says  plainly  no  one  can  go  to  him  except 
the  father  giveth  them  to  him. 

Every  creature  has  to  make  everything  right  with 
the  father  before  they  can  belong  to  Jesus,  everything 
has  to  be  done  in  the  father's  way,  not  in  man's  way. 
When  we  have  been  given  over  to  Christ,  Satan's 


352  The  Spirit  Father 

power  is  broken  over  the  spirit,  but  not  over  the  flesh, 
that  has  to  be  done  while  we  are  in  the  fold,  and  under 
the  teachings  and  care  of  Jesus.  We  may  stumble 
and  make  human  mistakes,  but  we  will  know  it  in  a 
moment  and  will  soon  make  it  all  right  again  with 
God,  the  father  knows  the  human  child  is  weak,  but 
he  knows  his  spirit  child  will  not  sin  willingly,  once 
it  has  received  its  new  birth. 

Jesus  is  able  to  keep  every  spirit  child  of  God  that 
is  committed  to  his  care  until  the  fulfillment  of  the 
father's  time;  when  Jesus  will  deliver  them  all  over 
to  the  father  for  the  final  settlement. 

Then  we  might  ask,  why  so  many  calling  themselves 
Christians  are  backsliders.  Because  they  are  like  those 
disciples  and  followers  of  Jesus  when  he  was  on  earth, 
they  are  willing  to  follow  him  and  love  him  in  their 
own  way,  but  they  have  not  found  the  way  back  to 
the  father  in  true  repentance,  and  received  forgive- 
ness for  their  past  sins,  and  been  baptized  for  the  re- 
mission of  their  sins.  So  they  have  never  passed  from 
the  hands  of  the  father  to  the  son,  they  are  simply 
trying  to  follow  after  Jesus,  but  they  do  not  belong  to 
him. 

That  is  the  reason  so  many  professed  Christians  are 
in  the  church  one  night,  and  in  the  theater  the  next, 
then  to  a  card  party,  or  ball;  then  a  night  or  two  in 
the  lodge  room  and  then  back  to  church. 

Can  we  believe  those  people  are  the  true  children 
of  God?  No,  they  are  merely  outward  followers  of 
Jesus,  because  they  think  they  will  get  something  from 
him. 


Father  and  Son  353 

They  expect  to  get  their  salvation  through  him,  but 
they  are  merely  following  him  as  a  dog  follows  a  man 
on  the  street,  the  dog  does  not  belong  to  him,  but  the 
man  looks  down  at  the  poor  animal  and  pities  him, 
he  does  not  take  it  home,  because  it  does  not  belong 
to  him.  That  is  just  what  Jesus  does,  he  looks  at  all 
such  followers  as  I  have  described,  in  love  and  pity, 
but  he  cannot  take  them  home;  for  they  do  not  belong 
to  him.  Not  that  he  does  not  want  them,  for  he  wants 
every  human  creature  in  the  world  to  be  saved,  and 
those  who  are  not  it  is  not  his  fault,  for  he  died  to  save 
them  all. 

We  may  ask  why  the  father  had  to  give  his  redeemed 
children  over  to  the  son.  That  was  the  father's  promise 
that  all  who  came  back  to  the  father  through  him, 
that  is,  all  who  received  the  message  and  obeyed  it, 
would  be  given  to  him  to  care  for.  Although  they 
have  received  their  forgiveness  they  are  not  cleansed 
and  purified,  and  the  spirit  has  to  remain  under  the 
care  of  Christ  until  it  leaves  a  body  that  has  been 
cleansed  of  the  power  of  Original  Sin. 

God  will  reclothe  and  reclothe  the  spirit  that  has 
gone  to  him  in  true  repentance  and  confessed  Christ. 
He  will  reclothe  it  until  it  dwells  in  a  perfectly  re- 
deemed body.  When  it  leaves  that  body  it  will  go  home 
to  God,  and  remain  with  the  father  until  Christ  comes 
to  take  up  his  earthly  reign,  when  all  the  redeemed 
will  come  with  him,  and  receive  their  earthly  inherit- 
ance. 

That  is  why  Jesus  calls  himself  the  Good  Shepherd. 
He   says,  the  sheep  know  his  voice  and  follow  him, 


354  The  Spirit  Father 

and  there  are  other  sheep  that  had  to  be  brought  into 
the  fold,  and  there  would  be  one  fold,  and  one  shepherd. 

That  is  why  his  father  so  loved  him,  because  he  laid 
down  his  life  to  bring  back  the  father's  sheep  (his 
lost  children).  He  says  no  man  took  his  life  from  him; 
he  laid  down  it  of  his  own  free  will,  and  he  had  power 
to  take  it  up  again. 

Now  Jesus  was  speaking  there  of  laying  down  his 
human  life,  and  because  he  was  willing  to  sacrifice, 
or  lay  down,  the  human  side  of  his  life  for  the  spiritual, 
he  had  power  after  death  to  take  up  his  human  life 
again.  And  that  is  what  every  human  creature  has  to 
do,  lay  down  their  human  (animal)  life  and  live  for  the 
spiritual  side  of  their  nature,  and  after  their  resurrec- 
tion they  will  be  able  to  again  take  up  their  spiritual 
life  in  human  form.  That  power  is  promised  from 
the  father. 

There  was  a  division  among  the  Jews  when  they 
heard  Jesus  saying  those  things. 

Some  of  them  said  he  was  a  devil,  and  others  that 
he  was  mad;  still  others  said,  "Those  are  not  the  words 
of  a  devil,  could  a  devil  open  the  eyes  of  the  blind,  and 
do  all  we  have  seen  this  man  do?" 

Jesus  said,  "I  and  my  father  are  one,  Jesus  simply 
meant  the  father  and  he  were  one  in  power,  for  he  had 
been  vested  with  the  father's  full  power;  for  the  mis- 
sion the  father  chose  him  for  on  earth. 

The  Jews  thought  he  blasphemed,  they  said,  he  is 
only  a  man,  but  he  is  making  us  believe  he  is  God. 

And  they  took  up  stones  to  stone  him,  but  Jesus 
told  them  he  had  shown  them  many  good  works  from 


Father  and  Son  355 

his  father,  and  he  did  not  do  the  works  alone,  his 
father  did  them  through  him.  He  was  only  the 
father's  instrmnent.  Let  us  go  back  and  take  up  two 
lessons  from  the  old  covenant  that  are  typical  of  what 
is  written  in  this  chapter.  First,  let  us  take  Hagar 
and  Ishmael.  You  will  find  the  lesson  in  the  twenty- 
first  chapter  of  Genesis,  where  Hagar  cast  her  child 
down  to  die,  and  sat  her  down  to  see  its  death.  God 
heard  her  weeping,  and  called  to  her,  "What  aileth 
thee  Hagar?  Fear  not,  for  God  hath  heard  the  cry 
of  the  lad." 

And  when  her  eyes  were  opened  she  saw  a  well  of 
water,  and  went  and  filled  the  bottle  and  gave  the 
lad  to  drink.  And  he  grew  up  and  became  great. 
This  lesson  is  symbolical  of  the  two  covenants — Hagar 
watching  her  dying  lad,  represents  the  sleeping  con- 
dition of  the  spirit  in  the  old  covenant, — and  God 
hearing  the  cry  of  the  lad,  represents  the  spirit  child 
crying  to  God.  The  water  that  Hagar  saw  and  filled 
the  bottle  with,  and  gave  to  the  lad  to  drink  and  he 
lived,  symbolizes  the  word  of  God — the  living  water, 
also  the  baptism  of  water,  for  the  sealing  of  the  cove- 
nant. We  must  also  understand,  the  sealing  of  the 
covenant  is  not  between  the  human  child  and  God, 
but  between  the  spirit  child  and  its  father  (God). 

Now  look  at  the  second  typical  lesson:  Where 
David  forgives  Absalom  his  son,  but  still  Absalom  did 
not  see  his  father's  face  for  over  two  years.  This  is 
typical  of  God  forgiving  his  children,  but  they  cannot 
see  the  father's  face  until  he  sees  that  their  repentance 
is  true,  and  they  are  brought  into  a  condition  for  the 


356  The  Spirit  Father 

father's  home.  This  typifies  the  children  of  God  being 
kept  in  the  fold  under  the  care  of  Christ  until  they  are 
made  perfect  for  the  going  back  to  the  father. 

Read  the  story  from  the  fourteenth  chapter  of  second 
Samuel. 


GHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

THE    MIRACLES. 

We  have  wonderful  teachings  from  the  miracles  per- 
formed by  Jesus,  through  the  power  of  God.  And  we 
have  wonderful  teachings  and  light  in  the  present  age, 
showing  that  Jesus  still  holds  the  same  power  to  work 
and  perform  his  miracles  as  when  he  was  here  in  his 
human  flesh;  for  he  is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and 
forever. 

And  as  God  worked  through  Christ  the  human  man 
by  vesting  him  with  spiritual  power,  so  does  Christ 
now  work  through  man  in  accordance  with  the  father's 
will.  He  is  doing  the  same  work  and  the  same  mira- 
cles through  the  power  of  the  spirit  as  he  did  when 
here  in  the  flesh,  and  he  is  using  human  instruments 
to  make  manifest  that  power.  But  Satan  has  his 
power  and  instruments  also,  and  uses  them  to  such 
an  extent  that  the  most  earnest  children  of  God  may 
be  deceived;  but  those  who  can  read  and  understand 
the  teachings  and  prophecies  of  the  Book  understand 
that  the  teachings  and  work  Christ  did  while  on  earth, 
and  handed  down  to  the  apostles,  was  to  be  handed 
down  from  generation  to  generation. 

But  I  believe  for  God's  own  purpose  much  of  the 
apostles'  power  has  been  withheld,  until  it  has  come 
God's  time  to  revive  some  of  the  power  again  through 

357 


358  The  Spirit  Father 

man,  and  to  make  preparations  for  a  greater  and  fuller 
power  and  work  than  has  ever  been  made  manifest 
on  earth;  and  for  the  working  out  of  the  fullness  of 
God's  plan  for  the  perfect  redemption  of  the  spirit,  soul 
and  body  of  man  in  these  latter  days,  from  the  power 
of  Satan,  and  to  make  a  fuller  manifestation  of  the 
glory  of  God,  and  his  wonderful  power  over  the  human 
flesh. 

One  of  the  greatest  miracles  of  Christ's  work  on 
earth  was  his  enduing  his  twelve  disciples  with  power 
against  unclean  spirits  and  power  to  heal  all  manner 
of  sickness  and  disease  wherever  they  went.  But  he 
gave  that  power  only  to  his  chosen;  and  all  who 
receive  that  power  now  must  be  chosen  by  God. 

Why  do  many  of  our  brethren  calling  themselves 
the  servants  of  God  try  to  hinder  the  work  that  is 
going  on  all  over  the  world  through  John  Alexander 
Dowie,  one  of  God's  servants  at  the  present  age? 
He  is  giving  all  the  glory  to  God,  and  is  helping  thou- 
sands of  the  lost  to  see  their  need  of  turning  to  their 
God  and  Father  in  true  repentance,  and  live  clean 
and  pure  lives;  showing  them  how  to  be  cleansed 
from  their  diseases  by  giving  themselves  to  God  and 
believing  in  his  promise  that  he  is  still  the  healer  of 
his  people  if  they  will  have  faith  in  Jesus  and  fulfill 
the  father's  conditions. 

Why  any  calling  themselves  Christians  or  servants 
of  God  do  not  rejoice  at  the  good  work  that  is  being 
done  for  God,  for  our  brothers  and  sisters  throughout 
the  world,  is  something  beyond  my  comprehension. 

No  matter  what  we  might  think  of  the  man,  no  one 


The  Miracles  359 

can  doubt,  who  has  any  knowledge  of  God's  teachings, 
but  that  the  spiritual  work  is  of  God. 

God  can  pity  and  forgive  any  one  interfering,  hinder- 
ing, or  abusing  the  man  and  his  work  from  ignorance ; 
but  when  such  things  are  done  from  malice  or  envy, 
then  may  God  open  their  understanding.  There  was 
a  marriage  in  Cana,  and  Jesus  and  his  disciples  were 
invited,  also  Jesus'  mother.  The  wine  was  nearly 
gone,  and  Jesus'  mother  came  to  him  and  told  him 
they  had  no  wine.  Jesus  answering  her  said :  "Woman, 
what  have  I  to  do  with  thee?"  We  would  think  that 
a  very  strange  way  for  Jesus  to  speak  to  his  mother; 
but  Jesus  was  not  speaking  to  her  through  any  dis- 
respect but  because  he  could  be  under  no  human 
power  or  authority  while  he  was  doing  the  works  of 
'his  father;  and  from  the  time  he  held  communion 
with  his  father  in  the  wilderness,  he  embraced  all  the 
human  race  as  his  kindred. 

We  have  from  his  own  lips:  when  his  disciples  told 
him  that  his  mother  and  brothers  wished  to  speak  to 
him — he  asked  who  were  his  mother,  brothers  or  sis- 
ters. Then  he  looked  around  at  all  those  that  were 
with  him,  waving  his  hand,  and  said,  "My  mother, 
brothers,  and  sisters  are  all  those  that  do  the  Will  of 
my  father."  He  did  not  say  all  those  that  did  his 
will,  but  those  that  did  the  will  of  his  father.  But 
Jesus  did  not  let  them  want  for  wine  to  finish  their 
feast.  He  told  the  servants  to  fill  six  waterpots  with 
water,  and  then  told  them  to  draw  it,  and  serve  it. 
And  when  the  ruler  of  the  feast  tasted  the  wine,  he 
called  the  bridegroom  to  ask  why  he  had  kept  the  best 


360  The  Spirit  Father 

wine  till  the  last.  We  have  an  object  lesson  in  this 
miracle  of  Jesus. 

We  have  heard  of  people  making  as  their  excuse 
for  taking  wine,  that  Jesus  expected  people  to  drink 
wine  or  he  would  not  have  made  it,  he  would  have 
let  them  drink  the  water  just  as  it  was.  Well,  I  think 
that  is  just  what  he  did — let  them  drink  the  water, 
no  adulteration,  or  fermentation,  no  rotten  fruits  did 
he  use.  The  purity  was  there,  that  was  to  show  man 
to  drink  nothing  that  was  impure  or  defiling.  That 
was  what  made  it  good,  the  best — in  the  purity  of  it 
was  its  quality.  Just  as  it  is  with  ever3^thing  on  earth, 
in  the  purity  of  things  is  found  their  quality. 

Man  can  live  without  any  kind  of  drink  that  was 
ever  manufactured  by  the  hand  of  man,  but  neither 
man  nor  beast  could  live  without  the  pure,  sparkling 
water  that  has  been  prepared  for  them  by  the  hand 
of  God — that  was  Christ's  object  lesson. 

Another  of  Jesus'  object  lessons  was  the  feeding 
the  five  thousand  people  from  five  loaves  and  two 
small  fishes.  Jesus  took  the  loaves,  and  when  he  had 
given  thanks — he  was  thanking  God  for  the  little  he 
had,  that  made  them  all-sufficient;  God's  blessing  was 
upon  them.  The  lesson  is,  if  Ave  ask  God's  blessing 
upon  what  we  have,  and  give  thanks  to  him  for  having 
it,  no  matter  how  small  it  may  be,  if  we  are  content 
with  it,  we  will  always  have  plentj"^  and  to  spare,  just 
as  Jesus  had  after  feeding  the  five  thousand.  The 
disciples  gathered  up  what  was  left,  and  they  had 
baskets  full  of  the  fragments.  And  when  the  people 
saw  what  Jesus  had  done,  they  said,  "Of  a  truth  this 


Jhsus  fet'diuK  tlic  liiin^'ry  witli  tlic  natural  food. 


The  Miracles  361 

is  the  prophet  that  was  to  come  into  the  world."  And 
they  would  have  taken  him  by  force  to  make  him  a 
king.  But  when  Jesus  knew  what  they  were  going 
to  do,  he  departed  from  them  and  went  away  alone, 
for  his  time  to  be  made  an  earthly  king  had  not  come. 

When  Jesus  reached  Capernaum,  many  of  the 
people  who  had  been  fed  by  him  on  the  other  side 
followed  him.  Jesus  knew  why  they  followed  him, 
and  he  told  them  they  had  not  followed  him  because 
they  believed  in  him,  but  because  they  had  eaten 
of  the  loaves  and  were  filled.  How  many  are  follow- 
ing Jesus  now  for  the  loaves? 

Then  he  told  them,  "Not  to  labor  for  the  bread 
that  perisheth,  but  for  the  bread  that  endureth  unto 
everlasting  life,  that  cometh  down  from  heaven." 
They  said  unto  Jesus,  "Our  fathers  did  eat  of  the 
manna,  the  bread  that  came  down  from  heaven,  and 
they  are  dead."  Yes,  they  are  dead,  their  manna 
was  the  bread  of  death,  the  bread  to  feed  the  flesh. 

This  lesson  of  Jesus,  on  the  manna  that  Moses  fed 
the  children  of  Israel  with,  and  the  bread  that  Jesus 
was  offering  them,  shows  the  difference  in  the  food 
required  under  the  two  different  covenants.  The 
food  Moses  gave  them  was  food  for  the  natural  man, 
the  food  Jesus  was  offering  them  was  food  for  the 
spiritual  man. 

Jesus  answered  them:  "Moses  gave  you  not  that 
bread  from  heaven;  but  my  father  giveth  the  true 
bread  from  heaven."  They  said:  "Lord,  give  us 
that  bread."  Jesus  said,  "I  am  the  bread  of  life,  if 
any  man  eat  of  this  bread  he  shall  live  forever." 


362  The  Spirit  Father 

"And  the  bread  that  I  give  you  is  my  flesh;  except 
ye  eat  my  flesh,  and  drink  my  blood,  ye  have  no  life 
in  you.  For  my  flesh  is  meat  indeed,  and  my  blood 
is  drink  indeed." 

Even  the  disciples  wondered  at  these  sayings,  and 
said,  "Who  can  understand  him?" 

Now  there  are  tens  of  thousands  like  the  Jews, 
they  cannot  understand  how  they  can  eat  the  flesh 
of  Jesus  or  drink  his  blood,  because  they,  like  the  Jews, 
have  not  their  understanding  opened. 

When  they  read  the  words  or  hear  them  spoken, 
they  only  see  or  hear  the  literal  words  they  do  not 
see  the  spiritual  meaning. 

And  many  belie^'e,  when  they  eat  the  bread  and 
drink  the  wine  at  the  sacrament  table  in  their  church 
services,  they  have  symbolized  the  eating  of  the  flesh 
and  drinking  of  the  blood  spoken  of  in  this  lesson. 

Jesus  in  all  his  teachings  speaks  of  the  father  and 
himself  as  one;  and  in  speaking  of  his  flesh  and  blood, 
he  is  not  speaking  in  the  literal  sense  of  the  words. 
He  is  simply  comparing  his  flesh  and  blood  to  the 
word  of  God;  the  word  of  God  came  down  from  heaven, 
and  that  word  produced  the  flesh  and  blood  of  Christ 
from  the  virgin  womb — the  word  made  flesh. 

All  reference  that  Jesus  made  of  himself  coming 
down  from  heaven,  and  being  the  bread  of  life,  and 
giving  the  living  waters;  all  these  things  Jesus  is 
comparing  to  the  word  of  God.  And  when  he  says, 
his  flesh  is  meat  indeed,  and  his  blood  is  drink  indeed, 
and  that  except  we  eat  his  flesh  and  drink  his  blood. 


The  Miracles  363 

we  have  no  life  in  us,  the  meaning  is  very  simple  when 
we  have  the  spiritual  light. 

We  are  to  eat  and  drink  the  word  of  God  and  feed 
our  spiritual  life  on  it. 

When  Jesus  was  in  the  synagogue  teaching  he  saw 
a  woman  who  had  a  spirit  of  infirmity,  and  was  bowed 
together  and  could  not  straighten  herself;  and  he 
called  her  to  him  and  laying  his  hands  on  her  head 
said,  "Woman,  thou  art  loosed  from  thine  infirmity." 
And  immediately  she  was  made  straight  and  glorified 
God.  All  Jesus  did  was  for  God's  glory.  Satan  had 
bound  the  woman  for  eighteen  years,  and  Jesus  loosed 
her  in  a  moment,  and  what  Jesus  did  then  he  can 
do  now,  for  all  was  done  by  the  power  of  God. 

Another  miracle  occurred  at  the  pool  of  Bethesda. 
The  people  believed  that  at  a  certain  season  of  the 
year  an  angel  came  down,  and  troubled  the  waters, 
and  if  any  one  who  had  disease  stepped  into  the  waters 
just  after  the  angel  had  been  there  they  would  be 
healed.  Many  who  were  sick  lay  around  the  porches 
watching  for  the  troubling  of  the  waters,  for  only 
the  one  who  got  in  first  would  receive  the  healing. 
And  one  man  had  had  an  infirmity  thirty-eight  years. 
Jesus  was  passing  by,  and  saw  the  man  lying  there, 
and  knew  he  had  been  there  a  long  time;  and  his  love 
and  compassion  went  out  to  him,  and  he  looked  on 
him  and  said,  "Wilt  thou  be  made  whole?"  The 
man  answered,  "Sir,  I  have  no  man  to  put  me  into 
the  pool  when  the  water  is  troubled,  and  before  I 
can   get  down   another  steps  in  before  me."     Jesus 


364  The  Spirit  Father 

told  him  to  "arise,  and  take  up  his  bed  and  walk,"  and 
immediately  he  was  made  whole. 

Was  it  not  strange  that  every  good  work  and  all 
the  miracles  that  Jesus  did  only  enraged  the  Jews  the 
more  against  him?  The  more  good  he  did,  the  more 
angry  they  became,  and  the  more  they  tried  to  kill 
him. 

But  it  was  not  the  poor  Jews,  it  was  the  devil  in 
their  hearts. 

Satan  had  Winded  them,  and  was  using  them  as 
his  instruments.  And  he  is  using  thousands  to-day 
in  the  same  work,  but  they  are  not  Jews  by  birth;  but 
they  hate  the  works  of  Christ,  just  as  the  Jev»'s  hated 
Christ  himself  and  all  he  did. 

But  God's  work  has  to  be  done  whether  the 
people  hate  it  or  not.  God  does  not  care  about 
that.  When  the  time  comes  to  do  it,  it  will  be  done 
in  defiance  of  all  the  powers  of  Satan.  God's  work 
must  go  on,  and  if  Satan  destroys  one  instrument, 
God  can  soon  provide  another. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


LAZARUS. 


Lazarus  was  one  whom  Jesus  loved,  and  when 
he  was  taken  sick,  his  sisters  sent  word  to  Jesus  that 
their  brother  was  sick.  But  Jesus  must  have  known 
all  about  it,  and  what  was  going  to  happen,  for  when 
he  was  told,  he  said,  "This  sickness  is  not  unto  death, 
but  for  the  glory  of  God,  that  the  son  of  God  might 
be  glorified  thereby."  Jesus  did  not  give  up  his  work 
to  go  to  Lazarus  for  some  days  after  receiving  word 
of  his  illness;  then  he  said  to  his  disciples,  "We  will 
go  into  Judea  again."  His  disciples  did  not  want 
him  to  go,  as  the  Jews  had  tried  to  stone  him  while 
he  was  there. 

Jesus  said,  "Our  friend  Lazarus  is  dead,  and  I  am 
glad  for  your  sakes  I  was  not  there,  to  the  intent 
that  ye  may  believe;  nevertheless,  although  he  is 
dead,  let  us  go  to  him." 

Jesus  wanted  his  disciples  to  see  with  their  own 
eyes,  that  they  might  be  living  eye-witnesses  to  the 
miracle,  and  they  would  be  able  to  give  a  true  testi- 
mony of  all  they  had  heard  him  teach  and  preach 
and  all  the  work  he  had  done. 

They  were  with  him  through  all  his  mission.  He 
chose  them  when  he  began  his  work,  and  they  were 
his  companions  and  friends  till  he  finished. 

365 


366  The  Spirit  Father 

There  were  many  things  that  they  heard  him  preach 
and  teach  that  they  did  not  understand,  but  they 
obeyed  him,  and  that  is  all  they  were  required  to 
do,  till  the  proper  time  came  when  Jesus  opened  their 
understanding,  then,  all  he  had  said  was  revealed 
to  them  in  all  its  spiritual  light,  and  they  were  fully 
prepared  to  take  up  the  work  Jesus  was  leaving  them 
to  do  when  he  went  home  to  the  father. 

They  were  to  take  up  the  work  just  as  Jesus  left 
it  to  them,  to  carry  the  father's  message  in  all  its 
fullness,  and  do  the  works  as  he  had  showed  them 
while  on  earth. 

He  was  going  to  show  them  by  calling  forth  Lazarus 
from  the  grave,  the  truth  of  the  resurrection  of  the 
human  body.  We  have  only  this  one  instance  on 
record  of  the  calling  forth  of  the  dead  from  the  grave, 
where  Jesus  says  distinctly  he  was  dead. 

When  he  raised  Jairus'  daughter  he  said  plainly 
to  all  those  in  the  house  that  the  maid  was  not  dead^ 
only  sleeping,  and  he  took  her  by  the  hand  and  she 
arose. 

Then,  again,  when  he  raised  the  widow's  son,  he 
met  them  carrying  to  the  grave  a  dead  man,  the  mother 
was  weeping  and  he  had  compassion  on  her,  then 
touched  the  bier  and  they  that  carried  him  stood 
still.  He  said,  "Young  man,  I  say  to  thee,  arise.' 
And  he  that  was  dead  sat  up  and  began  to  speak' 
and  Jesus  delivered  him  to  his  mother.  Jesus  did 
not  say  whether  the  young  man  was  dead  or  asleep; 
but  Jesus  said  Lazarus  was  dead. 

Martha,    Lazarus'    sister,    saw    Jesus    coming    and 


Lazarus  367 

went  to  meet  him,  saying,  "Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been 
here,  my  brother  had  not  died."  Jesus  said,  "Thy 
brother  shall  rise  again."  Martha  said,  "I  know 
he  will  rise  again  in  the  resurrection  at  the  last  day." 
Jesus  answered,  "I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life, 
he  that  believeth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet 
shall  he  live,  and  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in 
me  shall  never  die." 

Jesus  asked  Martha  if  she  believed,  and  she  said, 
"Yea,  Lord,  I  believe  thou  art  the  Christ,  the  son 
of  God,  who  should  come  into  the  world." 

Now  there  is  great  light  in  this  lesson  on  Lazarus, 
but  we  must  look  into  it  very  closely.  Jesus  says,  "He 
that  believeth  on  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall 
he  live."  And  Jesus  was  going  to  prove  it  to  them 
by  bringing  forth  Lazarus  from  the  grave.  Jesus 
is  speaking  of  both  the  human  and  spirit  life,  and 
that  the  body  will  be  brought  forth  from  the  grave 
to  the  judgment  or  resurrection  day,  and  that  the 
spirit  child  will  be  reclothed  with  the  human  body; 
but  the  body  will  be  raised,  prepared  by  the  word  of 
God,  not  by  human  man. 

Jesus  came  to  the  grave  and  told  them  to  take 
away  the  stone.  Martha  said,  "Lord,  he  stinketh 
by  this  time,  for  he  has  been  four  days  dead."  Jesus 
said,  "I  told  thee  if  thou  wouldst  believe  thou  should 
see  the  glory  of  God."  God's  glory  is  revealed  to 
us  in  his  power  to  raise  the  human  child  from  the  grave 
— the  power  of  God  over  death — the  power  of  God 
over  Satan. 

When  they  took  away  the  stone  from  the  place 


368  The  Spirit  Father 

where  the  dead  lay;  not  where  Lazarus  lay,  but  where 
the  human  garment  (body)  lay,  for  the  spirit  of  Lazarus 
was  not  dead,  and  the  body  was  called  forth  to  reclothe 
the  spirit  child  of  God — when  they  moved  away 
the  stone,  Jesus  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  said,  "Father, 
I  thank  thee  that  thou  hearest  me  always,  and  I  know 
thou  hearest  me  always,  but  because  of  the  people 
that  stand  by  I  said  it,  that  they  might  believe  that 
thou  hast  sent  me." 

O,  how  anxious  Jesus  always  was  to  get  the  people 
to  believe  that  the  father  sent  him,  and  that  the  power 
was  from  the  father.  Then  he  cried,  with  a  loud 
voice,  "Lazarus,  come  forth."  (The  loud  voice  symbol- 
izes the  trumpet  call  at  the  judgment  day.) 

And  he  that  was  dead  came  forth,  bound  hand  and 
foot  with  grave  clothes.  Jesus  said  unto  them,  "Loose 
him  and  let  him  go."  That  miracle  was  simply  to 
show  his  disciples  that  the  body  would  be  brought 
forth  again  by  the  word  of  God,  and  reclothe  the 
spirit  and  be  let  loose  again  to  live  on  earth  as  Lazarus 
was. 

Many  of  the  Jews  who  saw  these  things  believed 
on  him.  Yes,  like  many,  many  others,  they  will 
only  believe  what  they  can  see  with  the  human  eye. 

Now  the  raising  of  the  daughter  of  Jairus,  and  the 
widow's  son,  symbolizes  a  different  lesson  altogether 
than  the  bringing  forth  of  Lazarus  from  the  grave. 

Jesus  said  that  the  maid  was  not  dead,  that  she 
only  slept,  this  lesson  represents  the  sleeping  spirit 
in  a  young  girl  before  it  has  been  touched  with  the 


Lazarus  369 

quickening  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit;  but  when  Jesus 
touched  the  maid,  the  spirit  hfe  was  quickened  and 
she  arose  up  in  her  new  life. 

The  raising  of  the  widow's  son  is  a  symbol  of  tne 
same  lesson.  He  found  the  young  man  laying  spiritu- 
ally dead,  and  he  touched  the  place  where  he  lay,  and 
said,  "Young  man,  arise."  And  he  arose  up  in  his 
spiritual  life,  and  the  widow  that  had  been  weeping 
over  her  lost  son  had  him  restored  to  her  through 
the  power  and  word  of  Jesus. 

But  Lazarus  being  called  forth  from  the  grave 
by  the  power  of  the  word  of  God,  through  Christ, 
was  what  Jesus  wanted  his  disciples  to  see  with  their 
own  eyes;  the  bringing  of  Lazarus'  dead  body  forth 
from  the  grave,  not  by  the  touch  of  his  hand,  but 
by  the  word  of  command  to  show  them  the  true  mean- 
ing of  the  resurrection  and  the  difference  between 
the  touch  of  his  hand  on  those  who  had  not  been 
laid  in  the  grave,  and  the  calling  forth  of  the  body 
after  it  had  been  long  enough  in  the  grave  to  become 
corrupt.  But  as  Jesus  was  teaching  his  disciples 
both  of  the  present  and  future,  he  was  making  them 
eye-witnesses  of  all  they  were  to  teach  and  preach 
and  do.  Just  as  Christ  taught  and  showed  all  things 
to  his  disciples  while  he  was  here  on  earth,  so  he  is 
preaching  and  teaching  the  same  things  to  his  disciples 
at  the  present  time;  for  Jesus  must  have  his  disciples 
now  just  as  he  had  them  then.  All  Jesus'  followers 
are  his  disciples  and  learners.  Christ  had  thousands 
of   disciples   while   here   on   earth,   but   from    among 


370  The  Spirit  Father 

them  he  had  his  chosen,  and  he  has  his  chosen  now. 
And  as  he  showed  his  chosen  then  the  mysteries  and 
teachings  of  the  spiritual  Ufe,  so  does  he  now. 

But  it  is  the  eye  of  faith  that  has  to  look  upon  the 
work  and  teachings. 

Even  the  disciples  that  were  with  him  in  the  flesh 
only  saw  with  the  human  eye  and  understood  with 
the  human  heart  until  Jesus  opened  their  eyes  and 
their  understanding.  Then  they  understood  the 
human  and  spiritual  life  in  all  its  fullness,  as  far  as 
it  is  God's  will  to  reveal  it  to  human  man. 

Christ  himself  arose  from  the  grave,  but  what  is 
the  difference  in  the  lesson  taught  us,  from  the  resur- 
rection of  Christ  and  the  calling  forth  of  Lazarus. 
Christ's  obedience  to  God  gave  him  power  over  Satan, 
sin,  disease,  and  death;  and  by  his  power  over  death 
he  conquered  the  power  of  the  grave,  and  arose  him- 
self out  of  the  tomb  by  the  power  of  his  obedience. 
He  says  no  man  took  his  life  from  him,  he  laid  it 
down  of  his  own  will,  and  he  had  the  power  to  take 
it  up  again. 

Thousands  think  when  they  read  the  Bible  that 
Christ  had  to  die  whether  he  was  willing  or  not,  but 
that  is  not  the  teaching  of  Jesus.  He  died  on  the 
cross  through  his  obedience  to  God  his  father,  but 
he  gave  that  obedience  willingly — of  his  own  free  will. 

He  obeyed  his  father  and  carried  his  message,  and 
did  his  work  to  the  poor  and  rich;  high  and  low;  to 
all  his  lost  brothers  and  sisters. 

He  carried  the  message  in  love  and  obedience  till 
it  cost  him  his  life  on  the  cross. 


CHAPTER  XL. 


THE    PARABLES. 


Before  we  begin  this  lesson  on  the  Parables  we  will 
look  at  the  difference  between  the  miracles  and  the 
parables. 

The  miracles  took  place  while  Jesus  was  on  earth 
in  the  flesh,  but  the  parables  Jesus  spoke  of  were  refer- 
ring to  something  that  would  take  place,  something 
that  would  transpire,  in  the  real  life  of  the  generations 
to  come,  and  for  lessons  to  draw  moral  instruction  from 
to  future  generations.  Jesus  was  sitting  by  the  sea, 
and  great  multitudes  gathered  around  him.  He  went 
into  a  ship  and  spake  to  them  in  parables.  He  com- 
pared his  teaching  and  preaching  to  a  man  sowing  seed 
in  a  field.  The  world  is  the  field,  and  the  hearts  of 
the  people  the  ground.  His  disciples  ask  him  why  he 
spoke  in  parables.  Jesus  answered  them:  "Because 
it  is  given  unto  you  to  know  the  mysteries  of  the  king- 
dom of  heaven,  but  to  them  it  is  not  given.  Therefore 
I  speak  to  them  in  parables;  because  seeing,  they  see 
not,  and  hearing  they  hear  not;  neither  do  they  under- 
stand." For  this  people's  heart  is  waxed  gross,  and 
their  ears  are  dull  of  hearing,  and  their  eyes  they  have 
closed,  lest  they  should  see  what  Jesus  is  doing,  and 
hear  what  Jesus  is  saying,  and  understand  and  be  con- 
verted.    Now,  Jesus  is  speaking  to  all  the  people  in 

371 


372  The  Spirit  Father 

the  world  to-day,  as  he  spoke  M'hen  on  earth,  for  God's 
message  has  not  changed;  it  is  just  the  same  to-day 
as  when  Jesus  first  received  it  from  his  father;  neither 
are  the  people  changed.  There  were  thousands  in 
those  days  who  did  not  want  to  hear  Jesus'  message  to 
them,  for  they  did  not  want  to  obey.  Jesus  knew  if 
they  had  the  true  desire  to  hear  or  see  they  would  soon 
understand  and  be  converted;  but  they  did  not  want 
to  give  up  their  sinful  lives;  and  it  is  so  now;  tens  of 
thousands  do  not  want  to  hear  the  true  message  of 
their  God  and  Father.  They  do  not  want  it  taught 
and  preached  to  them  as  Jesus  taught  it,  nor  do  they 
want  to  see  the  works  done  as  Jesus  did  them,  and  as 
he  left  them  to  be  done. 

They  only  want  to  hear  the  message  as  it  suits  them, 
and  to  obey  just  so  far  as  it  suits  their  worldly  lives. 
Jesus  knew  if  their  understanding  was  opened  they 
would  receive  both  him  and  his  message  with  joy. 

And  millions  in  the  world  to-day,  who  are  rejecting 
the  full  gospel  message  and  works  of  Christ  would 
gladly  receive  the  message  in  all  its  fullness,  if  their 
understanding  were  only  opened.  God  help  them! — 
they  will  never  get  their  understanding  opened  until 
they  turn  to  God  with  a  true  desire  to  be  obedient; 
for  only  the  obedient  will  be  taught  of  God. 

Thousands  of  God's  children  are  praying  to  God  for 
this,  that,  and  the  other,  crying,  0  Lord,  Lord!  O 
Father,  Father!  and  they  expect  the  Lord  and  Father 
to  obey  them  and  give  them  what  they  are  asking.  But 
they  never  seem  to  think  they  have  to  obey  the  Lord 
and  father  before  the  father  will  hear  or  answer  them. 


The  Parables  373 

When  any  one  heareth  the  word  of  God  and  under- 
standeth  it  not,  it  takes  no  root  in  their  hearts,  so  it 
does  them  no  good.  Then  some  hear  the  word 
preached  or  taught,  and  receive  the  words  with 
joy  and  make  up  their  minds  to  live  different  lives; 
but  in  a  few  weeks  it  is  all  forgotten  and  they  are  just 
as  far  away  from  God  as  before  they  made  their  good 
resolutions.  Then,  again,  many  hear  the  word  and 
do  not  take  time  to  think  anything  about  what  they 
hear  or  read,  for  the  cares  of  this  world  and  the  de- 
ceitfulness  of  the  world's  riches  take  away  their  thought 
from  the  dangerous  condition  they  are  living  in. 
In  another  parable  he  speaks  of  a  man  sowing  good 
seed  in  his  field,  and  his  enemy  came  and  sowed  tares 
among  the  good  seed.  Jesus  is  speaking  of  the  word 
and  works  of  God  being  pure  and  good,  and  God  is  sow- 
ing it  into  the  hearts  of  his  children,  and  the  devil 
comes  along  and  sows  some  evil  words  and  shows  the 
way  to  some  evil  works  through  the  lust  of  the  flesh 
and  the  world;  for  the  hearts  of  the  people  is  the 
ground  that  all  the  seed  is  sown  in,  whether  it  is  the 
wheat  or  tares.  Both  the  wheat  and  the  tares  will  be 
allowed  to  grow  up  in  the  world  together  until  the 
father's  time  comes  that  he  shall  gather  up  all  the  tares 
and  cast  them  aside  as  no  use  to  him.  Then  they  will 
be  cast  into  the  place  prepared  for  them.  But  even 
after  our  father  knows  that  the  evil  tares  are  planted 
in  the  hearts  of  his  children,  he  does  not  cut  them  out 
of  the  field  (the  world)  at  once;  but  leaves  the  good 
and  bad  to  grow  up  together,  to  give  the  tares  an  op- 
portunity to  grow  into  good  wheat  if  they  wish ;  for  he 


374  The  Spirit  Father 

says  if  he  would  allow  all  the  tares  to  be  pulled  up  at 
once  they  might  pull  up  some  of  the  good  wheat,  for 
in  every  human  heart  there  are  good  and  bad  mixed  up 
together,  and  the  good  may  overcome  the  bad  if  they 
are  left  together.  That  is  a  lesson  to  all — of  God's 
mercy  to  his  wicked  and  sinful  children.  By  leaving 
them  among  his  good  children  some  might  be  brought 
to  repent,  and  obey  their  father  and  be  saved. 

God's  love  and  mercy  is  beyond  all  human  under- 
standing. No  disobedient  child  of  God  can  say  at  the 
judgment  day,  if  you  had  given  us  time  we  would  have 
repented;  for  God  tells  them  to  repent  to-day,  for  to- 
morrow may  be  too  late,  so  no  one  will  have  that  ex- 
cuse. Jesus  gives  another  parable;  he  likens  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  (the  word  of  God)  to  a  woman  tak- 
ing yeast  to  make  up  the  sponge  for  her  bread.  She 
takes  a  little  and  hides  it  in  a  basin  full  of  flour,  and 
the  little  piece  works  its  way  through  all  the  flour  until 
it  leaves  the  whole  basin  full. 

That  is  what  the  word  of  God,  the  teachings  of  Christ 
does  for  those  who  hear  it  and  retain  it.  It  is  first 
hidden  in  the  heart  and  then  it  works  itself  out  until 
it  absorbs  the  whole  body. 

In  another  parable  Jesus  tells  of  the  merchant  who 
saw  the  beautiful  pearl,  and  sold  all  he  had  to  buy  it. 
Jesus  means,  if  we  have  not  the  word  of  God,  or,  I 
might  say,  the  Bible,  to  read  the  word  of  God  from, 
we  would  better  to  sell  all  that  we  have  and  buy 
the  Book  and  learn  from  its  teachings  what  God  would 
have  us  do,  and  do  it;  for  to  know  the  word  of  God 
and  obey  it  is  better  than  all  else  in  the  world. 


The  Parables  375 

Then  we  have  the  parable  of  the  ten  virgins,  five  of 
them  were  wise  and  five  were  foolish.  The  five  wise 
ones  lived  for  their  spiritual  life,  and  they  had  plenty 
of  oil  in  their  vessels;  their  bodies  were  the  vessels, 
and  were  full  of  spiritual  oil  that  kept  their  lamps 
burning;  they  were  all  ready  when  Jesus  came  to  take 
them  to  the  father's  home.  But  the  five  foolish  vir- 
gins had  lived  for  the  flesh  and  the  world;  and  they 
had  their  lamps — that  is,  their  spirit — but  they  had  no 
oil  in  their  vessels,  they  had  no  spiritual  life  in  their 
bodies,  and  their  lamps  would  not  burn;  they  had 
lived  for  the  world,  its  pleasures  and  pain,  and  when 
their  father  sent  Jesus  to  bring  them  home  they  were 
not  ready,  for  they  had  never  sought  the  spiritual  oil, 
and  when  they  would  have  liked  to  buy  some  it  was 
too  late,  for  the  door  was  shut,  and  they  could  not  go 
in,  although  they  cried:  "Lord,  Lord,  open  to  us." 
There  was  no  door  opened  to  them,  but  the  answer 
came,  "I  know  you  not." 

Dear  reader,  we  cannot  go  into  the  father's  home 
unless  we  are  known  by  Christ,  for  he  is  the  doorkeeper. 
What  will  it  be  to  you  and  me  if  we  find  the  door  shut 
on  us,  and  Jesus  says:  "You  cannot  come  in  here, 
I  know  you  not"? 

Do  not  delay  if  your  vessel  is  not  filled  with  oil, 
for  the  bridgegroom  may  come  at  any  moment  and 
you  not  be  ready. 

In  the  parable  of  the  prodigal  son  we  are  shown 
the  spirit  son  of  God,  and  the  human  son  of  man. 
The  return  of  the  younger  son,  and  the  father's  love 
and  compassion  to  him,  and  his  joy  over  his  return, 


376  The  Spirit  Father 

and  dressing  him  in  the  beautiful  robe  illustrates 
the  spirit  child  returning  to  its  father. 

Then  we  see  the  human  man  under  the  power  of 
Satan  in  the  angry  retorts  of  the  elder  son  to  his  father 
when  he  hears  of  his  brother's  return  and  his  father's 
joy.  For  in  place  of  the  elder  brother  rejoicing  over 
the  return  of  his  brother,  we  see  in  his  words  anger, 
maUce,  and  envy.  That  is  what  Satan  feels  for  every 
one  he  sees  returning  to  God  their  father. 

Then  we  have  the  rich  man  and  the  beggar.  The 
rich  man  wore  grand  clothes,  and  fine  Hnen,  and  Hved 
in  a  magnificent  manner  every  day,  and  there  was 
a  poor  beggar  sat  at  his  gate  asking  for  the  crumbs 
that  were  ,left  from  his  table,  and  in  a  short  time 
the  beggar  died  and  was  carried  by  angels  back  into 
his  spirit  father's  bosom.  The  rich  man  also  died 
and  was  buried  and  when  he  awoke  he  found  himself 
in  the  torments  of  hell,  and  was  shown  a  sight  afar 
off — Lazarus,  the  beggar,  in  the  bosom  of  the  father's 
home — and  he  cried,  "Father,  have  mercy  on  me,  and 
send  Lazarus  that  he  may  dip  the  tip  of  his  finger 
in  water,  and  cool  my  tongue,  for  I  am  in  torment 
in  this  place."  But  the  father  said,  "Son,  remember 
that  thou  in  thy  lifetime  receivest  thy  good  things 
and  did  not  make  good  use  of  them,  or  thou  wouldst 
have  helped  poor  Lazarus,  and  done  many  good  things 
with,  all  your  riches,  but  you  used  them  all  for  your 
own  gratification;  but  now  Lazarus  is  home  and  has 
every  comfort,  and  thou  art  in  thy  home  and  art 
tormented. 

"  Lazarus  cannot  go  to  take  you  water,   for  there 


Tim  i)0(ir  man  pleading  for  help  at  the  door  of  liis 
rich  brotluT. 


The  Parables  377 

is  a  great  gulf  fixed  between  us  and  thee,  so  no  one 
can  pass  from  where  we  are  to  you,  neither  can  any  one 
pass  from  you  to  us,  for  the  gulf  is  fixed  so  that  none 
can  pass  over." 

Then  the  rich  man  pleaded  that  they  would  send 
some  one  to  his  father's  house  to  warn  his  brethren; 
for  he  had  five,  and  he  wanted  to  send  them  word 
to  repent  before  it  was  too  late,  for  fear  they  would 
be  cast  into  the  place  of  torment  also.  But  he  was 
told  his  brothers  had  the  teachings  of  Jesus,  let  your 
brothers  hear  and  obey  them.  He  was  not  sure  his 
brothers  would  be  willing  to  hear  them  any  more 
than  he  had  been,  for  he  knew  if  he  had  been  willing 
to  hear  and  obey,  he  would  not  have  been  where  he 
was;  and  he  was  so  anxious  that  his  brothers  should 
not  come  there  that  he  said,  he  was  sure  if  one  went 
back  to  them  from  the  dead,  they  would  repent.  But 
he  was  told  if  they  would  not  hear  the  teachings  of 
Jesus  and  repent,  neither  would  they  be  persuaded 
although  one  arose  from  the  dead  and  told  them. 

Dear  reader,  what  illustrations  we  have  from  all 
the  parables  if  we  can  read  them  from  the  spiritual 
side,  for  all  Christ's  teachings  and  works  are  from 
the  spiritual  side  of  life;  that  is  why  the  teaching 
of  the  Bible  is  a  sealed  book  to  so  many,  there  is  a 
veil  between  them  and  the  true  meaning  of  the  words 
they  read;  for  as  every  word  we  speak  has  a  meaning, 
so  has  every  word  we  read  of  the  teachings  of  Jesus, 
and  if  we  do  not  get  the  right  meaning  from  what 
we  read  we  must  have  the  wrong  one,  and  that  is 
what  is  leading  millions  of  God's  people  astray. 


378  The  Spirit  Father 

The  rich  man  lived  for  the  world  and  its  pleasures 
until  he  got  into  a  place  he  could  not  get  out  of;  but 
while  he  lived  his  life  in  the  world,  he  had  no  conception 
of  what  he  was  doing  until  it  was  too  late. 

Only  two  words,  but  our  whole  future  life  rests 
on  just  two  words.  Jesus  says,  "follow  nic."  And 
Satan  says,  "follow  me."  Two  words,  but  your  future 
depends  on  your  decision. 

When  the  call  comes  for  us  to  leave  this  earthly 
life  our  whole  future  hangs  on  being  ready  or  unready ; 
we  will  either  be  one  of  the  redeemed  children,  or 
one  of  the  unredeemed  children.  If  of  the  redeemed 
then  we  are  ready,  and  like  Lazarus,  the  spirit 
child  will  be  carried  back  by  the  angel  messenger 
to  the  father  from  whence  it  came.  But  if  we  are 
one  of  the  unredeemed,  we  will  find  our  future  home 
where  the  rich  man  found  his,  in  the  bosom  of  hell. 

Then  'we  have  the  parable  of  the  great  supper, 
There  was  a  man  made  a  great  supper  and  invited 
a  great  many  to  it,  and  when  all  was  ready  he 
sent  out  his  servants  to  tell  them,  that  all  things 
were  ready  for  them  to  come  in;  but  they  all  began 
to  make  excuses,  one  said  he  had  bought  a  piece 
of  ground,  and  he  had  to  go  and  see  it;  another 
had  bought  some  cattle,  and  had  to  go  and  see  after 
them ;  another  had  married  a  wife  and  could  not  leave 
her — that  was  wonderful  for  the  majority  of  husbands 
can  leave  their  wives  at  any  time  to  go  to  a  good 
supper. 

The  servant  came  and  told  his  Lord  the  excuses 
the  invited  guests  had  made,  and  the  master  of  the 


The  Parables  379 

house  was  angry  and  told  his  servant  to  "Go  out 
into  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  and  bring  in  the 
poor,  and  all  he  could  find."  The  servant  said,  "Lord, 
I  have  obeyed  thy  command,  and  yet  there  is  room." 

The  master  said,  "Go  out  into  the  highways  and 
by-ways,  and  compel  them  to  come  in,  that  my  house 
may  be  filled,  for  not  one  of  those  who  were  bidden 
shall  taste  of  my  supper." 

That  is  what  Jesus  is  doing  through  all  ages  inviting 
all  the  people  to  come  to  the  great  supper  prepared 
for  all  in  our  father's  house;  but  we  meet  with  many 
in  our  daily  life  who  have  excuses  always  ready  when 
we  give  them  the  invitation,  "Come,  for  everything 
is  ready."  In  simple  words  the  invitation  is,  come 
to  your  father  in  true  repentance  and  obey,  he  is  ever 
ready  to  forgive,  and  take  us  all  into  his  home;  but 
if  we  refuse  his  invitation  it  will  be  sent  to  some  one 
else  who  will  accept  it,  and  we  will  be  left  out. 

A  certain  man  had  two  sons  and  he  went  to  the 
first  and  said,  "Son,  go  and  work  in  my  vineyard 
to-day."  And  he  said  to  his  father,  "I  will  not." 
but  afterwards  he  repented  and  obeyed.  And  the 
father  told  his  second  son,  also,  to  go  out  and  work 
in  his  vineyard,  and  he  said,  "I  will  go,"  but  he  did 
not. 

That  is  an  illustration  of  God  and  his  children. 
Thousands  of  his  disobedient  children  are  repenting, 
and  doing  what  their  father  told  them  to  do;  and  tens 
of  thousands  promise  to  obey  but  do  not  keep  their 
promise. 

Now  the  parable  on  the  vineyard  is  a  parable  that 


380  The  Spirit  Father 

should  enter  into  the  Ufe  of  every  converted  child 
of  God.  So  many  are  earnest  and  willing  to  be  workers 
in  the  vineyard  for  the  master,  for  this  part  of  the 
work  is  under  the  supervision  of  the  great  master, 
and  every  one  that  has  taken  Christ  for  their  master 
is  expected  to  enter  into  the  work  at  once,  and  every  one 
has  their  own  spot  in  the  vineyard  to  work  upon,  and 
if  they  begin  in  the  wrong  place,  they  will  never  do 
any  good  in  the  master's  work.  So  let  us  find  out 
where  every  one's  little  piece  of  ground  is  that  they 
may  begin  to  work  in  their  own  spot.  For  the  master's 
work  at  the  present  age  is  in  a  terrible  condition, 
all  because  his  workers  are  trying  to  work  on  the  spot 
of  ground  that  the  master  has  allotted  to  another  in 
place  of  the  spot  allotted  to  themselves.  Now  let  me 
tell  you  where  the  right  spot  is  for  every  one  to  begin 
in.  The  moment  any  one  is  converted  and  believes 
in  Christ,  they  must  begin  to  work  in  their  own  heart, 
and  they  must  keep  diligently  at  work  there  until 
it  is  perfectly  cleansed  of  every  weed  (sin)  and  culti- 
vated into  a  condition  to  bring  forth  fruit,  it  may  not 
be  very  perfect  fruit  at  first,  but  they  must  keep  on 
cultivating  the  ground  until  every  weed  is  taken  out 
and  they  bring  forth  perfect  fruit.  And  then,  and 
not  until  then,  is  any  one  able  to  work  in  any  other 
part  of  the  vineyard  to  do  any  good  in  the  master's 
work.  In  the  present  state  of  things  it  is  every  one 
trying  to  work  in  their  neighbor's  heart,  and  their 
own  so  full  of  weeds  that  even  a  potato  could  not  find 
room  to  grow.     Is  it  any  wonder  we  find  the  master's 


The  Parables  381 

work  in  the  condition  it  is  in?  Every  one  sees  the 
weeds  in  his  neighbor's  heart,  but  forgets  to  look  in 
at  his  own. 

Then  another  light  1  would  like  to  bring  in  here  is 
the  difference  between  those  that  are  called  to  work 
in  the  vineyard  and  those  that  are  the  called  and 
chosen  servants  of  God  for  special  world-wide  work. 
Every  sinner  the  moment  they  confess  Christ  are 
called  to  begin  work  in  their  own  heart,  let  them  be 
young  or  old.  But  no  one  will  be  called  of  God  for  any 
special  work  unless  they  have  been  tried  and  found 
true  and  faithful,  then  God  will  prepare  them  and 
send  them  out  with  spiritual  power.  The  men  them- 
selves may  not  know  how  they  are  led  into  the  work, 
but  they  are  led  on  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

Then  we  have  the  parable  of  the  marriage  of  the 
king's  son.  The  king  made  a  great  marriage  for  his 
son,  and  many  had  been  bidden  to  the  wedding.  But 
they  did  not  go;  and  when  the  day  came  the  king 
had  to  furnish  other  guests.  He  sent  his  servant  out 
to  bring  in  all  he  could  find,  both  good  and  bad.  And 
when  the  king  came  in  to  see  the  guests,  he  saw  a  man 
who  had  not  a  wedding  garment:  and  the  king  said 
to  him,  "Friend,  why  camest  thou  in  here,  not  having 
on  a  wedding  garment?  "  And  the  man  was  speechless. 
The  king  said  to  his  servants,  "Bind  him  hand  and 
foot,  take  him  away  and  cast  him  out." 

This  lesson  shows  that  both  the  good  and  bad  have 
God's  message  sent  to  them,  but  all  are  expected  to 
change  their  garments  before  they  go,     Some  may 


382  The  Spirit  Father 

think  they  can  slip  in  without  changing  their  garments, 
but  the  moment  they  arc  seen  without  their  garments 
changed  they  will  be  cast  out. 

Then  we  have  the  parable  of  the  draw  net — another 
wonderful  parable.  It  says  the  net  was  thrown  into 
the  sea,  and  gathered  in  fish  of  every  kind,  and  when 
it  was  drawn  in,  they  gathered  out  all  the  good  and 
took  them  into  the  vessel,  and  all  the  bad  were  thrown 
away.  This  is  a  very  interesting  parable,  for  it  sym- 
bolizes the  visible  church  of  Christ  throughout  the 
world,  it  embraces  every  church  of  every  denomination 
in  the  world.  The  visible  church  is  a  mixed  church 
of  every  creed  and  every  kind — good  and  bad.  It  is 
called  the  church  militant,  and  represents  a  church  of 
warfare,  a  church  engaged  in  fighting  sin,  and  every 
sinner  has  to  pass  through  the  visible  church  before 
he  can  enter  the  Church  Triumphant.  In  the  visible 
church  all  should  learn  to  fight  in  the  right  way,  and 
in  the  right  place.  Every  creature  that  enters  the 
visible  church  should  be  trained  in  the  church  to  fight 
Satan  and  sin  out  of  self,  for  that  must  be  accomplished 
by  every  individual  before  they  can  enter  the  Church 
Triumphant,  that  represents  the  heavenly  church. 
But  w^e  must  enter  the  church  triumphant  while  we 
are  on  earth,  and  be  a  member  of  it  here.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  triumphant  church  will  be  gathered  out 
of  the  visible  church  throughout  the  world;  out  of 
every  denomination,  every  creed,  every  color,  and 
every  nation  there  will  be  found  those  ready  to  be 
taken  into  the  church  triumphant,  but  they  can  only 
become  members  of  that  church  when  every  desire  for 


The  Parables  383 

sin  has  been  fought  and  cleansed  out  of  their  own 
hearts,  and  have  gotten  the  quiet  peace  and  rest  of 
heaven  in  their  hearts  amidst  all  the  worries  and  bat- 
tles of  their  earthly  life. 

After  this  Jesus  sent  the  people  away  and  went  into 
the  house  with  his  disciples,  where  he  explained  all 
things  to  them.  He  told  them  he  had  spoken  in  para- 
bles to  fulfill  the  prophecies  where  it  is  said,  he  will 
open  his  mouth  in  parable,  and  will  utter  strange 
things,  which  have  been  kept  secret  from  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world.  There  was  to  be  no  more  secrecy, 
everything  was  to  be  made  open  and  plain  to  the 
disciples.  And  to  all  others  as  soon  as  they  are  prepared 
to  understand  the  teachings  of  Jesus  from  the  spiritual 
life, 


CHAPTER  XLI. 


LOVE    OF    FATHER   AND   SON. 


The  father  tells  us  Jesus  is  his  beloved  Son.  Al- 
though Jesus  is  the  first  begotten  and  the  best  beloved 
of  the  father,  God  has  plenty  of  love  left  for  all  his 
children,  or  he  would  not  have  sent  his  beloved  son 
to  meet  the  terrible  fate  that  befell  him.  It  was  the 
father's  love  for  the  rest  of  his  children  that  caused 
him  to  send  Jesus  with  the  message  that  brought  him 
to  give  up  his  life  on  the  cross. 

God  is  love,  his  word  proclaims  it;  day  by  day  we 
prove  it;  and  the  boundless  love  of  Jesus  is  past  all 
human  knowledge. 

The  father  tells  us  to  hear  him,  just  as  they  heard 
him  when  he  was  on  earth.  Let  us  take  a  little  journey 
with  him  to  the  places  he  traveled  through.  Go  with 
him  to  Bethabara,  where  he  called  his  first  disciples; 
and  to  Cana,  where  he  performed  his  first  miracle; 
to  Capernaum,  where  he  did  many  great  works,  and 
healed  many  sick;  and  up  and  down  through  Judea  and 
Galilee.  Go  with  him  and  his  disciples  and  hear  what 
he  is  saying  to  the  people  as  he  goes  among  them,  for 
the  same  message  is  for  all  generations.  The  only 
thing  Jesus  ever  offered  of  his  own  was  his  love,  that 
was  his  own  to  give,  and  he  gave  it  freely.  All  else 
he  offered  was  from  the  father  and  in  the  father's  name; 

384 


Love  of  Father  and  Son  385 

and  all  he  asks  from  any  of  his  brothers  and  sisters  in 
return  for  what  he  has  done  is  to  obey  the  father. 

He  says,  "Those  that  know  the  commandments  and 
keep  them,  and  those  that  knoweth  the  will  of  my 
father  and  do  it,  those  are  they  that  love  him." 
Jesus  tests  our  love  to  him  by  our  obedience  to  him  as 
the  father's  messenger.  Jesus  promises  that  all  those 
who  love  him  will  be  loved  by  the  father,  and  that  he, 
Jesus,  will  love  them  also.  There  is  a  good  noble  son 
who  has  a  good,  kind  human  father,  that  he  knows  loves 
him  and  whom  he  loves  and  trusts.  He  has  some  friends 
he  loves,  and  invites  them  to  go  with  him  for  a  time. 
He  tells  them  he  is  sure  his  father  will  love  them. 
That  good  son  would  feel  he  was  offering  to  his  friends 
one  of  the  grandest  and  richest  things  in  the  world — 
his  father's  love.  That  is  what  Christ  is  offering  to 
all.  He  knew  what  that  love  was,  and  he  felt  it  the 
most  precious  thing  he  could  offer  man.  But  human 
love  can  never  understand  the  spirit  love.  No  natural 
lust,  no  jealousy,  enters  into  the  spiritual  love. 

Jesus  promised  he  would  make  himself  known  to 
all  who  love  him,  and  Judas  asked  him  how  he  would 
make  himself  known  to  his  disciples  and  not  unto  the 
world.  Jesus  answered,  "Those  that  love  me.  and 
keep  the  commands  of  my  father,  they  will  know  me 
and  know  my  father  also." 

But  we  may  ask  with  the  disciples,  how  are  we  to 
know  Jesus  when  he  is  not  here  with  us?  We  may 
believe  what  we  read  about  him,  and  we  may  believe 
there  is  a  Jesus  in  heaven,  but  how  are  we  to  be  sure 
we  know  him,  and  he  knows  us?     Jesus  is  speaking 


386  The  Spirit  Father 

of  the  unity  of  the  spiritual  birth.  Those  who  are 
born  again,  and  have  received  their  spiritual  nature, 
they  will  know  Jesus  as  well  as  any  one  in  their  own 
household,  and  better,  for  we  do  not  know  what  is  in 
the  hearts  and  lives  of  those  we  love,  even  our  sons 
and  daughters,  many  of  them,  have  hidden  things  in 
their  lives  that  we  know  nothing  of.  And  we  doubt 
their  love  for  us  many  times  but  we  have  no  doubt 
about  the  love  of  Jesus.  The  more  we  understand 
the  father's  love  the  more  we  know  of  the  love  of 
Jesus,  and  the  closer  we  live  to  Jesus  the  nearer  will 
we  get  to  the  father. 

We  know  that  love  is  extended  to  every  brother 
and  sister  throughout  the  world.  No  matter  how 
sinful,  or  how  rich  or  poor,  the  same  message  of  love 
and  mercy  is  extended  to  all.  Only  let  us  hear  the 
message  and  obey  it;  believe  that  the  father  sent 
Jesus;  repent  of  all  our  past  life,  whatever  it  may 
have  been.  It  may  have  been  a  careless  life  more 
than  a  sinful  one,  but  no  matter  how  you  have  lived, 
you  must  repent  and  obey  God  before  you  can  claim 
God's  promises  and  blessings  as  his  repentant  child. 
Only  those  who  come  as  repentants  are  entitled  to 
the  covenant  promises  after  they  have  fulfilled  the 
conditions. 

O  such  love,  such  boundless  love,  the  father  has 
bestowed  on  the  sinful  sons  of  men,  to  make  them 
sons  of  God!  Do  human  men  understand  the  love 
and  mercy  that  God  is  offering  to  the  human  race, 
when  he  offers  to  take  the  sons  and  daughters  of  sinful 


Love  of  Father  and  Son  387 

man  and  bring  them  into  a  condition  capable  of  being 
adopted  into  the  heavenly  father's  household,  and 
receiving  their  inheritance  as  the  father's  own  children? 
Man  cannot  understand  what  that  spirit  father  is 
willing  to  do  for  the  reclaiming  and  keeping  of  his 
spirit  children  out  the  power  and  rule  of  Satan  after 
the  judgment. 

No  human  heart  can  ever  understand,  nor  human 
tongue  ever  tell,  the  love  of  God  the  father  for  his 
children.  And  if  one  is  lost  and  cast  away  from  him, 
it  is  his  own  fault  not  the  father's  will.  Every  one 
will  be  taken  back  into  the  father's  home  and  freely 
forgiven,  no  matter  how  long  or  how  sinful  their  life 
may  have  been,  if  they  will  only  repent,  obey,  and 
live  a  new  life  in  accordance  with  the  father's  will. 

All  the  blessings  God  gives  us  he  sends  through 
Christ,  but  they  come  from  the  father.  We  must  ask 
for  them  in  Jesus's  name;  for  the  father  has  put  every- 
thing into  the  care  of  the  son,  and  petitions  sent  to  the 
father  must  bear  the  name  of  the  son.  Just  as  if  one 
of  our  human  fathers  had  a  large  family,  and  he  had 
given  into  the  care  of  one  son  all  his  earthly  posses- 
sions for  a  certain  length  of  time,  and  that  son  had 
to  transact  all  the  father's  business,  so  everything  the 
father  did  was  through  the  son.  That  is  how  it  is 
with  God  our  Father  and  Jesus  our  Elder  Brother. 
All  that  the  father  does  is  transacted  through  Christ, 
for  Christ  stands  between  the  sinner  and  God. 

God's  love  is  an  everlasting  love.  His  love  is  ex- 
tended to  every  creature  on  earth,  both  good  and 


388  The  Spirit  Father 

bad,  of  the  human  race,  and  down  to  the  lowest  crea- 
ture of  the  brute  creation,  for  God  loveth  every  crea- 
ture he  hath  created.  God's  love  and  care  is  one 
thing  and  his  promises  and  blessings  are  another.  His 
promises  and  blessings  are  a  part  of  the  covenant 
made  with  the  human  race,  and  only  those  who  fulfill 
the  covenant  conditions  have  a  right  to  ask  or  expect 
the  fulfillment  of  the  promises  or  blessings. 

One  of  the  scribes  asked  Jesus  what  was  the  first 
commandment  of  all.  Jesus  answers  him:  The  first 
of  all  the  commandments  is  "Hear,  O  Israel:  the  Lord 
our  God  is  one  Lord;  and  thou  shalt  love  him  with 
all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy 
strength.  And  the  second  is,  Thou  shalt  love  thy 
neighbor  as  thyself." 

I  believe  the  neighbor  Jesus  was  speaking  of  was 
their  spirit  brother,  the  spirit  child  of  God  within  them. 
He  is  the  nearest  neighbor  and  brother  of  the  human 
race,  and  we  ought  to  love  him  as  well  as  we  love  our 
human  self,  for  every  human  creature  has  a  spirit 
brother  within  him,  and  they  are  our  nearest  neigh- 
bors. And  when  we  are  told  not  to  eat  or  drink  to 
offend  our  brother,  if  we  love  the  spirit  brother  within 
us,  we  will  live  pure  lives  through  that  love.  And 
although  we  might  cat  and  drink  every  day  until  we 
were  in  a  disorderly  condition,  it  might  be  no  offense 
to  our  neighbor  living  in  the  next  house  or  across  the 
street.  We  might  not  love  him  any  the  less,  nor  he  us, 
for  being  drunk;  but  if  we  loved  our  spirit  brother 
we  could  not  defile  our  bodies,  for  that  is  his  abode. 
If  man  had  a  true  conception  of  himself  he  would  love 


Love  of  Father  and  Son  389 

his  spirit  brother  with  a  love  that  he  could  never 
bestow  on  human  man.  But  we  are  to  do  all  the 
good  we  can  to  our  fellow  creatures,  and  love  them, 
and  try  to  win  them  back  to  their  God  and  faiher  as 
Jesus  tried  to  do. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

JESUS    PREPARES    FOR   THE    PASSOVER. 

Jesus  sends  some  of  his  disciples  to  prepare  for  the 
last  great  supper.  We  have  no  doubt  but  Jesus  had 
eaten  very  often  with  his  disciples  in  the  time  they 
had  been  together;  but  this  was  to  be  the  last  supper 
before  his  betrayal  and  death. 

Satan  had  never  ceased  his  persecutions  of  Jesus 
from  the  moment  Jesus  told  him  to  be  gone  in  the 
wilderness.  For  all  Jesus'  work  from  that  hour  was 
to  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil,  and  win  the  children 
of  the  father  out  of  Satan's  power. 

Do  we  think  Satan  would  let  that  work  go  on  quietly? 
No  fear,  he  would  move  the  hosts  of  hell  to  stop  it 
if  he  could.  Satan  did  not  need  to  be  there  in  his 
own  personality,  for  he  had  his  instruments  ready. 
The  scribes  and  Pharisees  were  all  the  instruments 
of  Satan.  For  every  good  work  that  Jesus  did  they 
hated  him,  until  their  hatred  became  so  groat  that 
the  chief  priests  and  scribes  sought  for  some  way 
they  might  get  hold  of  him  and  put  him  to  death. 
They  were  afraid  to  take  Jesus  openly  for  fear  of  his 
followers;  so  they  thought  it  best  to  leave  him  alone 
until  after  the  feast  and  the  people  would  then  be 
scattered  abroad. 

The  disciples  asked  Jesus  where  they  should  go  to 

390 


Jesus  Prepares  for  the  Passover  391 

prepare  the  feast,  and  he  told  them  to  go  into  the 
city  to  a  certain  house,  and  tell  the  good  man  that  the 
master  said  he  would  come  there  to  eat  the  Passover, 
and  he  will  show  you  the  guest  chamber  (a  large  upper 
room)  furnished  and  prepared,  there  make  ready  for 
us. 

Jesus  had  many  friends  that  we  are  told  little  about, 
but  we  get  glimpses  of  some  of  them  here  and  there 
through  the  Book.  Here  we  see  the  good  man  of  the 
house  had  only  to  be  told  that  Jesus  was  coming, 
and  needed  the  guest  chamber,  and  it  was  there  ready 
for  him. 

Jesus  knew  the  time  was  drawing  near  when  he 
would  have  to  give  up  his  life;  for  the  hatred  of  the 
Jews  had  become  so  fierce  the  battle  would  soon  have 
to  end.  Jesus  knew  it  was  not  the  Jews  he  was  fight- 
ing, but  Satan.  He  knew  that  Satan  had  entered 
into  the  heart  of  one  of  his  disciples  and  that  he  would 
betray  him.  Jesus  knew  all,  for  he  had  the  insight  and 
wisdom  of  God  upon  him.  So  Jesus  came  in  the 
evening  with  his  twelve  disciples,  and  they  all  sat 
down  to  eat.  Can  we  see  the  love  and  sorrow  on 
Jesus'  face  as  he  looked  around  at  those  chosen  dis- 
ciples and  knew  one  of  them  would  betray  him?  They 
had  all  been  with  him  and  seen  his  life,  and  all  the 
good  works  he  had  done  among  them;  but  the  devil 
had  taken  possession  of  Judas,  and  he  was  ready  for 
his  work. 

While  they  were  at  supper  Jesus  said:  "One  of  you 
which  eateth  with  me  shall  betray  me."  And  they 
were  sorrowful  and  said  unto  him,  one  by  one,  "Is 


392  The  Spirit  Father 

it  I? "  Jesus  answered  ,  "It  is  one  of  you  that  dippeth 
^^^th  me  in  the  dish." 

And  they  looked  at  one  another,  for  each  knew  in 
his  own  heart  that  he  could  not  be  the  one,  except 
Judas,  and  he  knew  his  own  guilt. 

Jesus  said,  "The  son  of  man  indeed  goeth,  as  it  is 
written  of  him:  but  woe  to  that  man  by  whom  the 
son  of  man  is  betrayed,  better  were  it  for  him  had  he 
never  been  born. 

Jesus  is  saying  the  same  now  about  every  man  and 
woman  in  the  world:  Better  that  they  had  never  been 
born  than  that  they  reject  Christ  and  his  teachings. 

Do  we  notice  when  we  read  the  Bible,  Jesus  says 
"Woe  to  that  man  by  whom  the  son  of  man  is  be- 
trayed?" He  is  speaking  of  the  betrayal  of  his  flesh, 
the  human  son,  not  the  son  of  God,  the  spirit  son. 
Jesus  suffered  in  the  flesh,  the  human  man  was  cru- 
cified. Jesus  in  his  human  nature  was  just  as  human 
as  any  other  man  in  the  world,  except  that  the  seed 
of  man  cUd  not  enter  into  the  conception  of  his  human 
body,  so  that  his  flesh  was  free  from  the  lust  of  original 
sin;  but  in  all  his  human  sufferings  his  feelings  were 
just  as  acute  as  any  other  man's.  And  oh,  what  he 
suffered  from  his  brethren  without  any  cause,  only 
that  he  was  obedient  to  the  father  and  was  pure  and 
good  and  trying  to  teach  others  to  be  the  same,  that 
they  might  return  home,  and  enjoy  the  blessings  of 
the  inheritance  of  the  children  of  God,  instead  of  the 
inheritance  of  the  children  of  Satan!  They  hated 
him  with  envy,  because  he  was  good. 

Judas  had  made  a  bargain  with  the  chief  priests  to 


Jesus  Prepares  for  the  Passover  393 

betray  Jesus  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver.  Can  the 
reader  imagine  how  many  are  betraying  Christ  in 
this  age  for  the  love  of  the  silver  and  gold? 

Jesus  said  he  desired  greatly  to  eat  this  last  supper 
with  them  before  he  suffered.  After  the  supper  they 
sang  a  hymn  and  then  went  out  to  the  Mount  of  Olives. 
Jesus  knew  what  was  near,  and  he  took  them  all  to 
Gethsemane  and  told  them  to  rest  there  a  little,  while 
he  went  to  pray.  He  told  them  all  that  was  written 
about  him  must  be  fulfilled.  That  he  had  to  be  reck- 
oned among  the  transgressors,  and  that  the  end  was 
near. 

He  went  on  a  little  way  from  his  disciples  and 
kneeled  down  in  prayer.  There  we  find  the  spirit 
child  crying  to  the  father  for  help.  He  cried,  "O, 
father,  if  thou  art  willing,  remove  this  cup  from  me, 
nevertheless,  not  my  will  but  thine  be  done."  The 
father  sent  an  angel  from  heaven  to  strengthen  him, 
he  was  in  such  agony.  He  arose  from  prayer  and 
coming  to  his  disciples  found  them  sleeping.  He  said 
to  Peter,  "What,  could  ye  not  watch  with  me  one 
hour?"  Peter  was  the  only  one  he  rebuked  by  name, 
for  Peter  had  been  very  boastful  of  what  he  would  do 
for  the  master.  Peter  was  like  many  another,  before 
he  received  his  spiritual  power  he  was  willing  but 
weak.  Jesus  left  them  again,  to  pray,  and  coming 
back  the  second  time,  found  them  asleep.  He  looked 
on  them,  saying,  "The  spirit  is  strong  but  the  flesh 
is  weak."  Jesus  knew  the  human  weakness  as  well  as 
the  spiritual  strength.  He  prayed  the  third  time, 
came  again,  and  found  them  sleeping  and  said,  "Sleep 


394  The  Spirit  Father 

on  now  and  take  your  rest;  behold  the  hour  is  at  hand 
and  the  son  of  man  is  betrayed  into  the  hands  of 
sinners."  Satan  had  accomplished  his  work.  Judas 
came  viith  a  multitude  of  people  sent  by  the  chief 
priests.  Judas  had  given  them  a  token  by  which 
they  would  know  Jesus.  He  said,  the  one  he  would 
kiss  they  were  to  take  and  lead  him  away.  Judas  had 
chosen  the  time  and  place  when  he  knew  Jesus  and 
his  disciples  were  alone.  When  he  saw  them  coming, 
he  went  straight  to  Jesus  and  said,  "Hail,  master," 
and  kissed  him.  And  immediately  they  laid  hold 
of  Jesus  and  took  him  away  to  the  high  priest,  and 
with  the  high  priest  were  assembled  all  the  chief 
priests,  the  elders  and  scribes.  All  the  devil's 
instruments  were  there  holding  council,  and  trying  to 
find  witnesses  against  Jesus.  But  they  could  not  find 
any  at  that  time  for  they  were  all  false  witnesses,  so 
their  testimonies  did  not  agree. 

The  high  priest  asked  Jesus  if  he  had  anything  to 
say  for  himself;  but  Jesus  gave  him  no  answer.  Then 
they  asked  if  he  was  the  Christ,  and  Jesus  said,  "If  I 
tell  thee,  ye  will  not  believe  me,  neither  will  ye  let 
me  go."  But  again  the  high  priest  asked  him  if  he 
was  the  Christ,  and  Jesus  answered,  "I  am."  They 
all  cried,  "What  more  of  a  witness  do  we  need?  We 
have  heard  his  blasphemy." 

That  was  what  they  wanted  Jesus  to  answer,  so  they 
could  condemn  him  on  his  own  words,  and  there  they 
pronounced  him  guilty  of  death.  There  stood  our 
beloved  Jesus,  our  elder  brother,  in  the  midst  of  his 
accusers,  without  a  friend;  even  his  disciples  had  for- 


Jesus  Prepares  for  the  Passover  395 

saken  him  through  fear.  Peter  had  followed  after 
him,  and  while  Jesus  was  being  condemned,  Peter  had 
denied  that  he  knew  him.  O  Peter,  how  many  there 
are  like  thee,  walling  to  deny  Jesus  any  day,  through 
fear  of  what  the  world  will  think  of  them!  They  took 
Jesus  and  mocked  him  and  spit  on  him;  the  servants 
struck  him  on  the  face  with  the  palms  of  their  hands, 
and  bound  him  and  led  him  away  to  Pilate. 

What  had  Jesus  done  to  be  so  abused?  It  was 
Satan's  hour  of  triumph,  but  he  little  knew  that  what 
he  thought  was  his  hour  of  triumph  was  the  hour  that 
sealed  his  doom.  He  only  thought  if  he  could  get  Jesus 
out  of  the  world,  all  the  work  that  Jesus  was  doing 
would  be  stopped,  and  all  would  fall  back  again  into 
his  hands.  That  was  what  Satan  was  working  for. 
He  had  a  multitude  of  his  workers  there,  and  they  laid 
hold  of  Jesus  and  took  him  before  Pilate  and  accused 
him  of  perverting  the  nation  and  leading  away  the 
people.  That  was  the  trouble.  Jesus  was  leading 
the  people  away  from  their  sins,  sickness  and  disease; 
by  giving  them  the  father's  message  and  teaching  them 
to  obey  and  believe,  and  every  blessing  and  promise 
would  be  fulfilled  to  them. 

That  was  perverting  the  nation  in  the  sight  of  the 
chief  priests  and  scribes,  and  they  were  determined  to 
have  him  out  of  the  world  at  any  cost. 

But  after  Pilate  had  heard  all  they  had  to  say,  he 
told  them  he  found  no  fault  in  what  Jesus  had  done. 
But  the  Jews  were  fierce,  and  Pilate  told  them  to  take 
him  to  Herod,  that  he  belonged  to  Herod's  jurisdiction. 
When  Herod  saw  Jesus  he  was  exceeding  glad,  for  he 


396  The  Spirit  Father 

had  desired  to  see  him,  he  had  heard  so  much  about 
Jesus,  and  he  hoped  to  see  him  do  some  miracles. 

Herod  asked  him  many  questions,  but  Jesus  an- 
swered not  a  word;  and  the  chief  priests  and  scribes 
stood  by  and  vehemently  accused  him,  but  he  an- 
swered them  nothing.  Jesus  knew,  no  matter  how 
much  he  might  talk  to  them,  or  how  many  questions 
he  would  answer,  they  would  not  let  him  go.  He 
knew  their  hearts,  so  he  would  not  answer  them. 

That  made  their  hatred  more  fierce.  Herod  and 
his  men  of  war  set  Jesus  at  nought  and  mocked  him, 
arrayed  him  in  a  gorgeous  robe  and  sent  him  again  to 
Pilate.  Pilate  then  asked  the  Jews  what  accusation 
they  had  against  him  that  they  brought  him  there 
again.  "Take  him  away  and  judge  him  according  to 
your  own  law." 

But  the  Jews  would  not,  for  they  said  it  was  not 
lawful  for  them  to  put  any  man  to  death,  and  they 
were  determined  to  have  Jesus'  life  in  some  way. 

Pilate  went  into  the  judgment  hall  and  asked  Jesus 
if  he  was  the  king  of  the  Jews, 

When  Jesus  answered  any  of  their  questions  he 
never  gave  a  direct  answer.  So  he  asked  Pilate  if  he 
asked  the  question  himself  or  if  others  told  him  to. 
Pilate  said,  "Am  I  a  Jew  of  thine  own  nation,  and  the 
chief  priests  have  delivered  thee  unto  me,  what  hast 
thou  done?"  Jesus  answered  him,  "My  kingdom  is 
not  of  this  world  or  my  servants  would  fight  that  I 
should  not  be  delivered  to  the  Jews."  Pilate  said, 
"Then  thou  art  a  King?"  Jesus  answered,  "Thou 
eayest,  I  am  a  King,  for  this  cause  came  I  into  the 


Jesus  Prepares  for  the  Passover  397 

world  that  I  should  bear  witness  unto  the  truth  and 
every  one  that  believeth  the  truth  heareth  my  voice." 
Pilate  asked  him,  "What  is  the  truth?" 

Dear  reader,  let  us  not  ask  like  Pilate,  what  is  truth, 
but  let  us  ask  what  truth  was  Jesus  witnessing  for. 
Jesus  was  the  witness  that  the  power  the  father  had 
given  unto  him  was  true,  and  that  the  father  had  sent 
him  to  offer  forgiveness  and  reconciliation  between  the 
spirit  father  and  the  human  race  if  they  repent  and 
obey.  He  showed  them  what  the  father  would  do  for 
them.  That  all  who  came  to  him  believing,  he  would 
heal  all  their  sicknesses  and  diseases  as  well  as  forgive 
them  their  sins. 

Jesus  did  all  these  things  to  show  them  the  truth 
of  what  he  taught.  How  many  would  have  believed 
on  Jesus  if  he  had  not  been  able  to  do  the  things  for 
them  that  he  said  the  father  sent  him  to  do?  He 
proved  the  truth  of  what  he  taught  by  the  works  he 
did.  But  he  told  them  time  and  again  that  not  he 
but  the  father  did  these  things  through  him.  Jesus 
wanted  every  one  to  understand  that  the  glory  was 
the  father's.  And  that  the  father  would  do  all  he 
was  telling  and  doing  for  them — the  father  would  do 
the  same  through  all  the  ages  to  come,  to  all  those 
that  would  come  to  him  and  trust  him.  So  he  can  do 
the  same  to-day. 

Pilate  did  not  know  what  to  do,  for  his  wife  had 
told  him  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  good  man. 
Pilate  again  said  to  the  Jews,  "I  find  no  fault  in  him, 
and  as  it  is  your  custom  that  I  release  unto  you  a 
prisoner  at  the  Passover,  will  ye  have  me  release  unto 


398  The  Spirit  Father 

you  the  King  of  the  Jews?"  But  they  cried,  "Not 
that  man,  but  Barabbas."  Now  Barabbas  was  a 
robber,  and  deserved  to  be  where  he  was.  But  what 
had  Jesus  done  to  merit  such  shame  and  abuse?  My 
heart  cries,  Oh,  how  could  human  men  have  been  so 
malignant  and  inhuman  in  their  hatred  as  were  those 
Winded  Jews;  for  none  but  devils  could  have  thought 
of  such  cruelties,  let  alone  carry  them  out.  But  it 
was  the  devil  in  the  Jew's  heart  doing  the  work,  not 
the  poor  blinded  Jews,  they  were  spiritually  blind  so 
Satan  had  full  possession  of  them.  I  remember  one 
night  many  years  ago  in  the  city  of  Toronto  I  went 
to  hear  a  converted  Jew  preach  in  behalf  of  his  Jewish 
brethren.  He  was  blind  in  his  human  sight,  but  how 
he  pleaded  with  his  gentile  brethren  to  be  kind  to  the 
Jews ;  for  he  said,  "If  they  had  been  able  to  comprehend 
for  a  moment  that  Jesus  was  the  Christ,  their  Messiah, 
no  Jewish  hand  would  have  been  lifted  up  against 
him. 

He  was  the  son  of  a  rabbi,  and  he  said  when  he  had 
his  sight  he  traveled  all  over  the  places  where  Jesus 
had  been,  but  he  had  no  spiritual  sight  then.  But 
now,  he  said,  my  human  sight  has  given  place  to  my 
spiritual  sight,  and  instead  of  seeing  the  places  where 
Jesus  walked  and  suffered  as  human  man,  I  can  see 
Christ,  the  Messiah,  sitting  on  the  throne  at  the  right 
hand  of  the  father;  and  I  realize  all  that  my  brethren 
have  done.  He  pleaded,  pray,  pray,  gentile  brothers 
and  sisters  that  all  my  Jewish  brethren  may  be  con- 
verted, for  Jesus  is  still  pleading  for  his  Jewish  brethren. 


Jesus  Prepares  for  the  Passover  399 

"As  to  the  City  He  drew  nigh 
The  Son  of  God  dissolved  in  tears; 

E'en  then;  when  at  the  point  to  die 
Stronger  than  death  His  love  appears. 

'Twas  for  his  countrymen  He  wept, 
Through  unbelief  his  bitterest  foes; 

For  them  He  mourned  before  He  slept, 
Of  them  was  mindful  when  He  rose. 

For  them  He  gave  the  parting  charge 

When  on  Mount  OUvet  He  stood; 
To  show  them  and  the  world  at  large 

A  pardon  written  with  His  blood. 

Disowned  of  heaven,  by  man  oppressed. 
Outcasts  from  Zion's  hallowed  ground, 

Oh,  why  should  Israel's  sons  once  blessed 
Still  roam  the  scorning  world  around? 

Lord,  visit  thy  forsaken  race 

Back  to  thy  fold  the  wanderers  bring; 

Teach  them  to  seek  thy  slighted  grace 
And  hail  in  Christ  their  promised  King. 

Pilate  brought  Jesus  forth  and  gave  him  to  the 
Jews,  saying,  "I  tell  you  all  again,  I  find  no  fault 
in  him,"  He  had  scourged  Jesus,  that  is,  taken 
a  whip  and  lashed  him,  thinking  that  would  satisfy 
the  people,  but  he  could  not  prevail  upon  them  to 
release  Jesus.  He  took  water  before  the  Jews  and 
washed  his  hands,  saying,  "I  am  innocent  of  the  blood 
of  this  just  person ;  see  ye  to  it. "  All  the  people  answered 
let  his  blood  be  on  us,  and  on  our  children.  Ah,  God 
help  them,  little  did  they  think  what  they  were  saying. 
They  have  been  outcasts  from  that  hour,  but  God's 
promises  will  be  fulfilled  to  them  also.  They  will 
return  and  seek  forgiveness  from  their  God,  and  bow 


400  The  Spirit  Father 

the  knee  to  their  rejected  King.  They  will  go  back 
in  true  repentance  and  be  gathered  in  again ;  the  severed 
olive  branch  will  be  united  to  the  parent  again;  for 
almost  the  last  words  Jesus  spoke  were,  "Father, 
forgive  them,  they  know  not  what  they  do."  Jesus 
is  still  pleading  with  the  father  to  forgive  every  sinful 
creature  in  the  world. 

When  they  were  leading  Jesus  to  Calvary  many 
of  the  women  followed,  bewailing  and  lamenting  him. 
Jesus  turning,  said  unto  them,  "Daughters  of  Jerusalem, 
weep  not  for  me,  but  weep  for  yourselves,  and  for 
your  children."  Jesus  knew  the  Jews  were  bringing 
the  anger  and  wrath  of  God  upon  them  and  their 
children,  and  that  they  had  more  need  to  weep  for 
themselves  than  for  him.  Jesus  would  rather  see 
us  all  weeping  over  our  sins  than  over  his  sufferings. 

When  Pilate  saw  he  could  do  nothing  to  save  Jesus, 
he  asked  them  what  he  was  to  do  with  him.  The 
multitude  cried,  "Crucify  him,  crucify  him.  Away 
with  him,  crucify  him." 

The  soldiers  plaited  a  crown  of  thorns  and  put 
it  on  his  head,  and  dressed  him  in  a  royal  robe  and 
said,  "Hail,  King  of  the  Jews,"  mocking  him,  and 
smote  him  with  their  hands. 

Oh,  cruel,  Winded  Jews,  the  day  will  come  when 
they  will  be  glad  to  bend  the  knee  to  their  Christ 
and  king;  but  not  in  mockery,  and  in  place  of  crying, 
crucify  him,  they  will  cry,  blessed  is  he  that  cometh 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

Satan  was  there  in  all  his  power  as  they  led  Jesus 
to   Golgotha   and    nailed   him    to   the   cross.     While 


Jesus  Prepares  for  the  Passover  401 

he  was  hanging  there  in  his  last  agony,  Satan's  instru- 
ments, filled  with  all  the  evil  power  and  hatred  of 
Satan,  sat  there  mocking  and  reviling  him,  telling 
him  if  he  was  the  son  of  God  to  get  God  to  deliver 
him.  Oh,  Satan  thought  his  hour  of  triumph  had 
come  when  he  would  have  Jesus  out  of  the  world. 
But  instead  of  it  being  the  hour  of  Satan's  victory, 
it  was  the  hour  of  God's  victory,  Christ's  victory,  and 
victory  for  all  the  human  race  who  believe  on  Jesus 
and  are  obedient  to  God,  for  Christ's  death  was  his 
final  victory  over  Satan. 

In  his  agony  Jesus  cried  to  his  father,  "O,  why 
hast  thou  forsaken  me?"  The  father  had  not  for- 
saken him,  but  he  had  to  win  the  victory  over  Satan 
unaided,  to  see  if,  in  his  sufferings,  he  would  turn 
for  help  from  God  to  man. 

Jesus  cried  again  to  the  father,  and  he  must  have 
known  God  heard  him  for  he  said,  "Father,  into  thy 
hands  I  commend  my  spirit.'-'  He  bowed  his  head, 
and  said,  "It  is  finished."  What  was  finished?  Not 
Christ's  earthly  life  nor  his  earthly  work,  for  he  arose 
from  the  grave  to  finish  his  work  and  give  his  last 
commands;  so  what  was  finished?  Satan's  power 
and  persecutions  over  Christ  were  finished.  Christ's 
perfect  obedience  and  faith  in  God  gave  him  his  final 
victory  over  Satan. 

Dear  reader,  what  will  those  three  words  mean 
to  you  and  me,  when  the  day  comes  that  God  calls 
us  away  from  this  earth?  Will  we  be  able  to  say  the 
words  as  Jesus  said  them?  All  the  redeemed  children 
of  the  father  will  be  able  to  say,  as  Jesus  did — It  is 


402  The  Spirit  Father 

finished — for  all  Satan's  power  will  be  finished  over 
them;  but  no  unredeemed  child  will  be  able  to  say 
it,  for  Satan's  power  over  them  will  never  be  finished. 
There  will  be  no  victory  after  you  are  called  from 
this  present  life,  no  coming  back  to  live  again  on  earth 
with  Christ,  unless  you  can  say,  "It  is  finished." 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

THE    RESURRECTION. 

There  was  a  rich  man  of  Arimathea  named  Joseph, 
who  was  one  of  Jesus'  followers,  and  when  the  body 
of  Jesus  was  hanging  on  the  cross,  he  went  and  begged 
Pilate  to  give  it  to  him.  And  when  they  gave  him 
the  body  he  wrapped  it  in  clean  linen  and  laid  it  in 
his  own  tomb,  and  rolled  a  great  stone  to  the  door 
of  the  sepulcher. 

But  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees  remembered 
that  Jesus  had  said  he  would  rise  again  so  they  went 
to  Pilate  and  told  him  that  the  deceiver,  meaning  Jesus, 
said  he  would  rise  again  after  three  days,  and  they 
wanted  Pilate  to  make  the  sepulchre  secure  for  fear 
Jesus'  disciples  would  steal  the  body  away  by  night 
and  say  to  the  people  he  had  risen  from  the  dead, 
and  their  last  error  would  be  greater  than  the  first. 
They  had  committed  a  great  error  when  they  crucified 
him,  and  many,  even  in  their  blind  unbelief,  may  have 
had  their  doubts  that  he  might  be  the  Messiah,  for 
they  had  seen  him  do  such  miracles  and  works  as 
no  other  man  had  ever  done.  The  people  were  then, 
no  doubt,  as  they  are  now  when  they  see  the  works 
and  miracles  that  they  know  are  past  the  power  of 
human  man,  they  believe  it  is  either  by  the  power  of 
God,  or  by  the  power  of  Satan.     Many  who  do  not 

403 


404  The  Spirit  Father 

know  God's  work  and  power  are  in  doubt,  and  when- 
ever there  is  a  doubt  there  is  error.  Just  as  the  Jews 
committed  their  first  error  by  doubting,  their  doubt 
caused  unbelief,  and  their  unbelief  caused  them  to 
reject  Christ  and  crucify  him. 

One  of  Satan's  strongholds  over  man  is  to  fill  him 
with  doubt.  The  Jews  were  afraid  if  they  let  the 
disciples  steal  away  the  body  and  say  unto  the  people 
he  had  risen,  many  who  were  in  doubt  would  believe 
he  was  the  Christ,  for  that  would  be  the  fulfillment 
of  the  prophecies;  so  they  went  and  sealed  the  stone 
at  the  sepulcher  and  set  a  watch  over  it  thinking 
to  keep  the  body  of  Jesus  safe  in  the  tomb  until  after 
the  time  he  said  he  would  rise.  But  did  all  their 
sealing  and  watching  keep  Jesus  in  the  grave?  Ah, 
no,  when  Jesus  gave  up  his  life  on  the  cross,  he  opened 
the  gate  of  the  tomb  to  all  human  flesh,  whether  it 
is  the  redeemed  or  unredeemed,  who  are  laid  in  the 
grave  or  buried  in  the  sea.  The  body  will  come  forth 
again  at  the  resurrection,  by  the  word  of  command 
from  God,  the  word  made  flesh,  to  reclothe  the  spirit. 

Just  as  Jesus  was  the  first  flesh  redeemed  out  of  the 
power  of  Satan,  by  his  obedience  to  his  father,  so  was 
his  body  the  first  of  the  resurrection  from  the  grave, 
and  after  his  resurrection  the  grave  was  opened  for 
all  human  flesh. 

This  lesson  on  the  resurrection  shows  to  all  coming 
generations  Jesus  after  he  had  passed  through  his 
first  and  second  resurrection.  Jesus  walked  and  lived 
on  earth  in  his  immortal  body,  Jesus  left  earth  in  his 
immortal  body,  and  he  will  taste  death  no  more. 


The  Resurrection  405 

His  first  death  and  resurrection  was  a  symbolic 
death  and  resurrection  at  the  river  Jordan,  and  v.e 
are  told  in  the  Bible  that  those  that  take  part  in  the 
first  resurrection  need  have  no  fear  of  the  second 
death. 

Let  us  here  give  the  interpretation  of  this  lesson : 
It  means  those  who  have  obeyed  the  command  of 
baptism,  have  sealed  their  covenant  with  God,  and 
symbolized  the  death  of  their  old  or  natural  life,  and 
has  risen  up  to  live  their  spiritual  life,  that  means 
life  a«cording  to  the  command  and  law  of  God,  taught 
by  Christ,  under  the  new  covenant  and  spiritual  law. 
Those  that  come  out  of  the  baptismal  water  and  live 
a  true  spiritual  life  will  never  fear  the  death  of  the 
flesh  or  the  putting  of  the  body  in  the  grave,  for  they 
will  have  the  full  assurance  that  their  future  is  safe, 
and  they  can  truly  sing,  "O,  grave,  where  is  thy  victory, 
0,  death,  where  is  thy  sting?"  For  they  have  the 
perfect  assurance  within  them  that  they  will  come 
again  to  earth  and  live  with  Christ  as  their  universal 
king. 

When  the  priests  and  Pharisees  had  sealed  the 
stone,  and  set  the  soldiers  to  watch,  they  thought 
everything  was  secure.  Then  how  did  it  happen  that 
Jesus  got  out  of  the  tomb?  What  were  the  soldiers 
or  the  sealing  of  the  grave  when  it  came  in  conflict 
with  the  power  of  Almighty  God?  Only  like  a  straw 
before  a  mighty  wind.  As  soon  as  the  soldiers  under- 
stood what  had  happened,  some  of  them  went  into 
the  city  and  told  the  priests,  and  they  held  a  council 
with  the  elders  to  see  what  was  to  be  done,  and  when 


406  The  Spirit  Father 

they  had  consulted  together  they  called  the  soldiers 
and  offered  them  large  sums  of  money  if  they  would 
say  that  while  they  slept  Jesus'  disciples  came  and 
stole  him  away;  and  if  the  Governor  heard  of  it  they 
would  persuade  him  so  the  soldiers  would  not  be 
punished.  So  they  took  the  money  and  did  as  they 
were  told.  It  is  still  thought  by  many  of  the  Jews 
that  Jesus'  body  was  stolen  by  the  disciples.  But 
Jesus  had  risen  as  he  said  he  would.  He  had  to  pre- 
pare his  disciples  to  receive  the  final  command,  before 
he  left  his  work  in  their  hands,  and  returned  to  his 
father's  home;  but  from  that  home  he  still  holds 
rule  and  power  over  all  his  father's  work.  He  told 
them  all  power  was  given  unto  him  in  heaven  and 
in  earth.  Jesus  did  not  claim  that  power  until  after 
he  had  risen  from  the  grave,  for  until  he  was  crucified 
he  was  under  the  father's  command,  doing  the 
work  himself,  all  under  the  old  covenant,  preparing 
everything  for  the  rectifying,  witnessing,  and  sealing 
of  the  new  covenant.  When  he  dictl  on  the  cross 
that  covenant  was  sealed,  aixl  when  he  arose  from 
the  grave  he  took  his  authorit}'  and  power;  all  his 
work  had  been  done  under  the  father's  command,  for 
he  claimed  no  authority  until  after  he  arose. 
And  gave  his  commands,  saying,  all  things  were 
to  be  asked  for  in  his  name. 

But  the  time  had  come  when  he  was  going  to  put 
the  work  into  the  hands  of  others,  and  leave  them  to 
do  it,  but  under  his  command,  b}^  the  father's  will. 
But  before  Jesus  put  the  work  into  their  hands  he 
spent  forty  days  teaching  his  disciples,  for  although 


The  Resurrection  407 

they  had  been  with  Jesus  all  through  his  ministry, 
and  had  obeyed  him,  they  did  not  know  the  scriptures. 
He  spent  just  as  many  days  teaching  them  as  he 
had  spent  in  the  wilderness  being  taught  by  God. 

He  opened  their  understanding,  and  they  were  then 
prepared  to  receive  his  commission  and  command, 
which  was  to  be  carried  from  that  hour  to  the  end  of 
the  ages,  just  as  it  was  delivered  to  them.  He  said: 
"As  my  Father  hath  sent  me,  even  so  send  I  you." 

He  was  sending  them  on  the  same  work  as  the  Father 
had  sent  him. 

Now,  let  us  see  what  he  sent  them  to  do.  They 
were  to  preach  repentance  for  the  remission  of  sins  to 
all  nations;  to  teach  and  baptize  all  nations  into  the 
name  of  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost; 
teaching  them  to  observe  all  things.  He  did  not  say 
they  were  to  teach  a  few  things,  and  leave  a  few  things 
out;  he  commanded  them  to  teach  all  things  as  he 
had  tanght  them,  and  he  would  be  with  them  always; 
to  go  into  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature,  and  those  that  would  believe  and  be  bap- 
tized would  be  saved,  but  those  that  would  not  be- 
lieve would  be  damned.  How  many  think  that  the 
last  clause  of  the  verse  is  all  they  need  observe,  they 
think  if  they  only  believe  without  obeying  the  baptism 
part  they  are  all  right;  but  we  think  if  we  read  the  last 
clause  first  and  the  first  last  we  would  have  the  true  in- 
terpretation of  the  verse:  "He  that  belie veth  not  shall 
be  damned,  but  he  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall 
be  saved."  For  Jesus  said  at  the  river  Jordan,  when  John 
was  not  willing  to  baptize  him :  "Let  it  be  so  to  fulfill  all 


408  The  Spirit  Father 

righteousness."  If  it  was  necessary  for  Jesus  to  go 
into  the  baptismal  waters  at  the  command  of  the 
father,  so  it  is  necessary  for  every  son  and  daughter 
of  God  who  wish  to  receive  the  full  blessings  prom- 
ised in  the  New  Covenant  to  the  obedient  child.  If 
all  had  to  be  fulfilled  by  the  pure  and  holy  begotten 
son  of  God,  how  much  more  needful  the  fulfilling  of 
all  the  commands  by  the  begotten  sons  of  sinfvJ  men! 

The  full  gospel  was  to  be  preached  to  every  creature 
and  he  told  them  the  signs  that  would  follow  the  teach- 
ing and  works  of  those  who  believed.  They  would 
have  power  to  cast  out  devils  in  his  name,  and  they 
would  speak  with  new  tongues.  Do  we  understand 
that  verse?  Every  sinner  in  the  world  has  the  devil 
in  him,  and  the  devil  uses  their  tongue  to  lie,  swear 
and  bear  false  witness,  and  speak  all  kinds  of  evil;  but 
Jesus  told  his  disciples  if  they  were  faithful  and  be- 
lieved they  would  have  the  power  through  the  teacliing 
and  preaching  of  the  gospel  to  cast  the  devils  out,  and 
the  sinners  would  be  brought  to  repent  and  obey;  they 
would  be  filled  with  a  pure  and  holy  spirit,  and  the 
tongues  they  had  used  in  the  works  of  Satan  will  be 
used  to  give  praise  and  glory  to  God;  that  will  be  the 
new  tongue. 

They  were  to  have  power  to  lay  hands  upon  the  sick 
in  Jesus'  name,  and  they  would  recover.  Then  he 
expounded  all  the  scripture  concerning  himself,  and 
told  them  that  the  words  he  had  spoken,  that  were 
written  in  the  law  of  Moses,  and  in  the  prophets  and 
Psalms  concerning  him,  had  all  to  be  fulfilled. 

Now  Jesus  had  prepared  his  disciples  in  every  way 


The  Resurrection  409 

he  thought  necessary  for  the  great  work  he  was  leav- 
ing for  them  to  do,  except  to  give  the  finishing  touch 
before  he  left  them.  He  opened  their  understanding 
that  they  might  understand  the  spiritual  teaching 
of  the  scriptures.  If  Jesus  had  not  done  that  they 
would  not  have  been  fitted  for  the  work  he  was  send- 
ing them  to  do.  The  spiritual  teachings  of  the  scrip- 
tures were  sealed  to  them,  as  they  are  to  every  one 
now  who  has  not  their  understanding  opened  by  Christ. 
Then  he  told  them  they  were  his  witnesses  of  all 
things ;  they  were  to  be  the  living  witnesses  of  all  they 
had  seen  and  heard  while  they  had  been  with  Jesus, 
and  all  he  had  told  them.  Jesus  had  finished  teaching 
them  and  was  ready  to  leave,  but  still  they  were  not 
ready  for  the  work ;  they  had  to  be  endued  with  power. 
Jesus  told  them  to  go  to  Jerusalem  and  remain  there 
until  he  would  send  them  the  promise  of  the  Father, 
and  they  would  be  endued  with  power  from  on  high. 
Could  not  Jesus  endue  them  with  the  power  they  needed 
before  he  left?  He  might,  but  we  can  see  the  wisdom 
of  God,  in  Christ  returning  home  to  the  Father 
before  they  could  receive  the  power.  Just  as  Jesus 
was  endued  with  power  from  on  high,  so  must 
every  chosen  son  and  servant  of  God.  H  Jesus  had 
endued  his  first  chosen  disciples  with  power  for  their 
work  while  he  was  with  them,  all  their  successors  would 
have  had  it  in  their  power  to  say  if  they  so  wished, 
that  they  could  not  have  the  same  power  to  teach  or 
do  the  works,  as  Jesus  had  not  been  with  them  to  en- 
due them  with  the  power;  but  God  is  too  wise  to  make 
any  mistakes,  and  he  knew  he  would  have  to  choose 


410  The  Spirit  Father 

and  endue  one  human  instrument  after  another  until 
his  work  was  finished.  And  from  that  age  to  this 
God  is  choosing  from  among  his  faithful  sons  through 
Christ,  and  enduing  them  with  power  for  the  work  he 
sends  them  forth  to  do. 

Every  chosen  and  prepared  servant  of  God's  sent 
out  on  any  special  world-wide  work  are  messengers 
of  the  covenant,  under  the  covenant  messenger.  Christ 
was  the  covenant  messenger  of  the  Father,  no  one 
can  ever  take  his  place.  But  every  one  chosen  and 
sent  out  since  Christ  gave  his  commands  to  the  apostles 
and  sent  them  out  with  the  covenant  message  under 
him,  so  has  every  other  chosen  servant  been  a  messen- 
ger under  the  covenant  messenger.  So  will  every 
one  be  that  is  sent  out  on  God's  special  work,  and  there 
will  have  to  be  some  sent  yet  before  the  fullness  of 
Christ's  mission  is  fulfilled.  Man  must  be  brought 
into  a  condition  to  be  saved  to  the  uttermost,  spirit, 
goul,  and  body,  consecrated  to  God.  But  God's  child- 
ren must  be  taught  what  the  consecration  of  their 
flesh  to  God  means,  it  is  not  a  consecration  by  word 
of  mouth  that  can  satisfy  God.  Their  body  can  no 
more  be  used  by  the  defiling  power  of  Satan.  When 
Jesus  had  finished  speaking  to  his  disciples,  he  led 
them  out  to  Bethany  and  lifting  up  his  hands  he 
blessed  them,  and  as  he  blessed  them  he  was  parted 
from  them  and  carried  up  into  heaven;  and  as  they 
stood  and  looked  steadfastly  after  him,  two  men  stood 
by  them  in  white  apparel,  and  said  unto  them:  "This 
same  Jesus  which  is  taken  up  from  you  into  heaven 
shall  come  again  in  the  same  manner  as  ye  have  seen 


The  Resurrection  411 

him  go."  But  when  our  beloved  Jesus  comes  again 
to  earth  he  will  not  come  bearing  the  father's  mes- 
sage of  reconciliation  between  him  and  his  children, 
or  as  our  elder  brother  pleading  with  men  to  repent 
and  seek  the  father's  forgiveness,  and  get  on  their  way 
back  to  the  father's  home.  No;  when  Jesus  comes 
again  he  will  come  to  take  up  his  royal  rule  over  all  his 
father's  earthly  domains.  He  will  come  as  Lord  of 
lords,  and  King  of  kings;  as  the  father's  heir,  to  hold 
his  sovereign  authority  over  all.  But  there  will  be 
many  rulers  under  him;  those  that  are  found  worthy 
to  hold  their  rule  under  him  must  make  themselves 
worthy  to  fill  that  place  while  they  are  on  earth  now 
and  in  his  service. 

Ye  self-appointed  servants  of  God  if  ye  only  knew 
what  ye  were  about.  In  place  of  fighting  the  works 
and  power  of  God,  and  the  all-conquering  power  of 
Christ  over  Satan,  sin,  disease,  and  death,  that  God 
is  showing  to  the  world  at  the  present  age,  and  the 
teaching  of  the  full  gospel  as  Jesus  left  it  to  be  taught. 
Jesus  the  Saviour;  Jesus  the  Healer;  Jesus  the  Cleanser; 
Jesus  our  Leader;  Jesus  our  Elder  Brother  and  our  Faith- 
ful Friend.     The  same  yesterday,  to-day  and  forever. 

Oh,  why  will  you,  my  brothers,  that  call  yourselves 
the  servants  of  God,  hold  back,  or  hide  one  command, 
promise,  or  blessing  of  the  father,  sent  through 
Christ  to  the  sinful,  sick  and  erring  brothers  and  sisters 
that  Jesus  gave  up  his  life  to  bring  to  them.  Broth- 
ers, why  will  you  not  rather  glory  in  the  showing  forth 
of  God's  glory  and  the  power  of  Christ  over  Satan  and 
his  work?     Can  you  not  read  from  the  teachings  of  the 


412  The  Spirit  Father 

Bible,  and  the  prophecies  that  God's  work  must  be 
done  in  God's  way,  not  in  man's. 

Christ  did  the  work  as  God  commanded  him,  and 
every  other  true  son  and  servant  of  God  must  follow 
Christ  both  in  obedience  and  command. 

Why  will  you,  through  blindness  or  unbelief,  be  cast 
out  as  unprofitable  servants  when  you  might  reap  the 
reward  of  the  faithful;  for  Jesus  is  still  holding  his 
power  through  his  faithfulness,  sitting  on  his  throne 
at  the  right  hand  of  God. 

The  head  that  once  was  crowned  with  thorns, 

Is  crowned  with  glory  now; 
A  royal  diadem  adorns 

The  mighty  victor's  brow. 

Let  miUions  bow  before  his  tlirone, 

Let  humble  mourners  seek  his  face; 
Bring  daring  rebels  to  his  feet 
,     To  seek  the  Father's  promised  gra^e. 

Baptise  all  nations,  far  and  near, 

The  triumph  of  the  cross  record; 
The  name  of  Jesus  glorify 
,     Till  every  kindred  call  him  Lord. 

The  highest  place  that  heaven  affords 

Is  his  by  sovereign  right; 
He  is  the  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords 

And  reigns  by  perfect  right. 


CHAPTER  XLIV.  ' 

CALLED,   CHOSEN  AND  SENT. 

Those  words  seem  to  be  a  stumbling-block  to  many 
when  we  speak  to  them  of  their  salvation.  They  say : 
"Oh,  there  are  only  a  few  to  be  chosen,  and  I  do  not 
think  I  will  be  one  of  them." 

Let  us  see  what  the  called  and  chosen  mean. 

How  many  were  called?  All.  The  first  call  of  God 
for  the  fulfilling  of  the  new  covenant  was  sent  through 
John,  and  it  was  a  call  to  all  the  world,  to  every  crea- 
ture, to  repent  and  be  baptized.  Of  all  the  multitude 
that  went  to  Jordan  to  obey  the  call  and  be  baptized 
how  many  were  chosen?  Only  one;  Jesus  alone  was 
chosen.  But  Jesus  was  not  chosen  because  he  was 
the  only  one  to  be  saved ;  Jesus  was  chosen  of  God  for 
his  special  mission.  But  every  one  who  obeyed  the 
call  and  came  in  true  repentance  to  receive  baptism 
for  the  remission  of  their  sins,  and  begin  their  new 
life  in  obedience  to  God,  would  be  among  the  saved,  if 
faithful,  although  they  were  not  chosen  for  any  special 
mission.  The  father  wanted  every  one  of  them  to 
obey  the  call  and  go  back  to  him  as  his  faithful  chil- 
dren, and  he  expects  them  to  do  all  for  him  that  any 
good,  faithful  child  could  do  for  a  father,  to  try  and 
find  any  of  his  children  that  had  not  obeyed  the  call 

413 


414  The  Spirit  Father 

and  try  to  win  them  back  to  obey  their  father's  com- 
mands. 

The  call  is  to  every  child  of  God,  good  and  bad,  to 
seek  their  salvation  on  the  conditions  the  father  offers 
it.  The  word  chosen  does  not  mean  that  any  one  is 
chosen  to  receive  their  salvation,  but  that  they  are 
chosen  by  the  father  for  some  special  work  or  mission. 

Jesus  heard  the  call  and  obeyed;  he  was  the  first 
chosen  and  sent  by  the  father,  anointed  and  endued 
with  the  father's  power  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  fa- 
ther's promise  made  when  Adam  fell.  Jesus  was 
chosen  to  be  the  father's  messenger  of  the  New  Cove- 
nant, and  to  be  the  restorer  of  the  spiritual  law,  the  spir- 
itual covenant,  and  spiritual  life.  Jesus  was  the  only 
one  at  the  Jordan  fitted  for  that  work,  therefore  he 
was  the  Chosen  and  sent  of  the  father. 

Jesus  began  his  work  with  the  same  call  as  John — 
repentance,  but  out  of  all  he  called,  he  chose  twelve; 
but  he  did  not  choose  those  twelve  because  they  were 
all  that  were  to  be  saved;  they  were  chosen  for  a  special 
work.  Jesus  kept  them  with  him  through  all  his 
own  earthly  mission,  under  his  teaching  and  training, 
preparing  them  for  the  work  he  was  going  to  send 
them  on. 

Now,  if  there  is  anything  in  the  world  that  the  devil 
likes  to  use  in  his  work  it  is  a  few  words  of  scripture 
if  he  can  use  them  to  blind  people.  He  has  made 
grand  use  of  those  three  words.  We  will  take  the 
chosen;  there  are  many  who  believe  that  there  are  only 
to  be  a  chosen  number  saved,  and  that  they  cannot 
be  among  the  number  chosen,  for  they  know  they  are 


Called,  Chosen  and  Sent  415 

sinful  and  wicked,  and  they  tell  us  there  are  too  many- 
good  people  in  the  world  for  them  ever  to  be  one  of  the 
chosen.  The  devil  has  used  that  word  to  keep  many- 
sinful  ones  from  turning  in  repentance  to  God.  God 
has  not  chosen  a  few,  or  many  of  his  children,  to  receive 
their  salvation,  for  the  father  wants  all  his  children 
to  return  to  him.  And  the  offer  is  to  all,  whosoever 
will  accept  the  offer  on  the  father's  conditions  it  is 
offered  freely,  without  money  and  without  price; 
only  fulfill  the  conditions,  and  that  is  within  the  power 
of  every  man  and  woman  on  earth.  No  matter  how 
rich,  no  matter  how  poor,  all  must  fulfill  the  same  con- 
ditions. God  is  just,  no  respecter  of  persons.  The 
word  "call"  Satan  is  using  to  blind  tens  of  thousands 
of  God's  people  through  all  ages.  Thousands  who  be- 
lieve in  the  call  of  Jesus  to  follow  him  have  their  spirit 
quickened,  and  they  feel  a  desire  to  live  a  better  life, 
and  there  is  a  desire  stirred  up  within  them  to  help 
others  to  live  better  lives.  The  devil  sees  this  and  is 
afraid  he  may  lose  his  hold  on  them  if  they  understood 
the  true  meaning  of  the  call ;  so  he  blinds  them  into  be- 
lieving it  is  the  call  of  God  for  them  to  go  out  in  his 
work  to  preach  and  teach  the  gospel.  And  they  are 
only  too  willing,  with  their  spiritual  blindness,  to  leave 
their  employment,  whatever  it  may  be,  and  don  their 
black  coat  and  think  they  are  ready  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel and  convert  the  world,  when  they  have  not  obeyed 
the  first  command  of  the  call  themselves.  They  have 
had  the  stirred-up  feeling,  and  desire  to  be  saved,  and 
their  hearts  may  be  filled  with  a  love  for  Christ  when 
they  hear  he  died  to  save  them ;  but  they  have  never 


416  The  Spirit  Father 

obeyed  the  command  for  true  repentance,  and  received 
their  baptism,  the  symbol  of  their  covenant  with  God, 
also  the  symbol  of  the  new  birth. 

"Ye  must  be  born  again,  of  water,  and  of  the 
spirit."  That  is  where  man  and  woman  are  to  take  up 
their  new  birth,  and  if  you  keep  the  vows  that  are  neces- 
sary to  take  with  that  baptism,  then  the  spirit  within 
you  is  quickened.  It  is  made  alive  to  its  spiritual 
birthright,  and  the  body  will  be  kept  in  subjection  to 
the  spirit;  the  spirit  has  received  the  first  gift  of  the 
father,  the  spiritual  birth.  The  spirit  within  you  will 
become  pure  and  holy,  and  the  purer  you  live,  the  more 
powerful  the  spirit-child  within  you  will  become,  until 
you  are  so  filled  with  spiritual  power  that  it  will  flow 
out  of  you  like  living  water. 

That  is  the  condition  the  spirit  father  must  find  his 
sons  and  daughters  in  before  they  are  fitted  to  be  chosen 
or  sent  on  the  father's  work.  The  natural  birth,  first 
of  water  and  flesh,  even  in  our  natural  birth  the  water 
must  precede  the  flesh,  also  must  the  water  precede 
the  spirit  in  the  spiritual  birth. 

For  it  does  not  make  any  difference  what  I  think 
about  it,  or  what  this  minister  or  that  minister  thinks 
or  says;  it  is  what  God  says  and  commands,  and  the 
order  God  has  arranged  for  his  work  to  be  done  in  we 
have  to  follow,  not  the  way  it  suits  man  or  woman,  but 
the  way  it  suits  God.  How  many  of  the  thousands  of 
self-appointed  servants  of  God  at  the  present  age  can 
be  found  in  a  fit  condition  to  be  chosen  and  endued 
with  the  spirit  power  from  God?    For  the  pure  and 


Called,  Chosen  and  Sent  417 

obedient  spirit  must  be  found  within  them  before  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  will  be  put  upon  them. 

It  is  not  ignorance,  nor  wickedness,  that  is  making 
millions  live  in  the  perilous  condition  they  are  in;  it 
is  the  spiritual  bUndness  they  are  in.  Satan  has  blinded 
them  to  their  own  condition,  and  they  are  perfectly 
happy,  believing  they  are  perfectly  safe.  Jesus'  last 
words  to  his  disciples  were  to  tarry  in  Jerusalem  until 
they  were  endued  with  power  from  on  high.  Jesus 
knew  they  were  prepared,  and  ready  to  receive  their 
apostleship  then  they  were  ready  to  go  out  and  do  the 
work  just  as  Jesus  had  taught  and  shown  them;  they 
were  to  witness  that  Jesus  was  the  Christ,  the  covenant 
messenger;  and  preach,  teach  and  heal  in  the  name  of 
Jesus,  and  to  build  up  the  church  of  the  living  God. 
Jesus  laid  the  chief  corner  stone  (that  was  himself,) 
and  from  that  the  church  was  to  be  built  up  with  living 
stones,  every  stone  to  be  polished  until  it  becomes  a 
living  stone. 

We  have  to  be  filled  with  spiritual  life  before  we  can 
become  a  stone  in  that  building.  Jesus  told  Peter 
on  what  foundation  he  would  build  his  church,  and 
from  those  few  words  Satan  has  built  up  one  of  the 
most  powerful  churches  in  the  world,  by  blinding  the 
people  to  the  true  interpretation  of  the  words.  Let  us 
read  what  Jesus  said  to  Peter  and  see  if  we  understand : 
Jesus  asked  the  disciples  whom  the  people  said  he  was, 
and  they  told  him  some  said  he  was  John  the  Baptist, 
others  said  he  was  one  of  the  prophets.  Then  Jesus 
said:     "But  whom  say  ye  that  I  am?"     Peter  an- 


418  The  Spirit  Father 

swered:     "Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  son  of  the  hving 
God."     Jesus  said  Peter  was  blessed  for  knowing  that, 
and  said :     "Human  man  had  not  revealed  that  to  him, 
but  his  heavenly  father  had."     Peter  had  spoken  the 
truth  when  he  said  Christ  was  the  son  of  the  living  God. 
And  when  Jesus  said  Peter  was  blessed  because  God 
had  revealed  it  to  him,  Jesus  meant  Peter  had  received 
spiritual  light  and  was  blest  thereby.     Then  Jesus  said : 
"I  say  also  unto  thee,  thou  art  Peter  (Jesus  also  spoke 
the  truth),  and  upon  this  rock  I  will  build  my  church, 
and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it." 
What  was  the  rock  Jesus  was  going  to  build  his  church 
upon?   Not  upon  Peter,  but  upon  the  words  Peter  had 
spoken.   Truth  was  the  rock  the  church  was  to  be  built 
upon,  the  unchangeable  word  of  God.     The  founda- 
tion of  the  church  is  built  on  the  word  of  God,  the  rock 
of  truth,  and  the  gates  of  hell  can  never  prevail  against 
the  word  of  the  living  God ;  that  was  what  Jesus  meant 
when  he  said:     "I  will  give  unto  thee  the  keys  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  and  whatsoever  thou  shalt  bind 
on  earth  shall  be  bound  in  heaven;  and  whatsoever 
thou  shalt  loose  on  earth  shall  be  loosed  in  heaven." 
Do  we  understand  what  the  keys  were  Jesus  was  go- 
ing to  give?     Remember,  he  did  not  say  the  keys  of 
heaven,  nor  the  keys  of  hell,  but  the  keys  of  the  king- 
dom of  heaven.     The  kingdom  of  God  is  within  us,  and 
the  keys  Jesus  was  going  to  give  them  (his  disciples  as 
well  as  Peter)  was  the  word  of  God,  and  the  spirit- 
power.     But  before  they  would  know  how  to  use  them 
Jesus  had  to  open  their  understanding,  and  they  had 
to  wait  until  they  got  the  power  from  on  high  before 


Called,  Chosen  and  Sent  419 

they  went  out  with  the  keys  (the  word  of  God  and  the 
spirit-power)  to  open  the  hearts  of  men  to  receive  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  the  word  of  God.  And  whosoever 
they  bound  on  earth  by  the  word  and  the  spirit  would 
be  bound  in  heaven. 

That  means,  whosoever  heard  the  word  of  God  and 
had  the  offer  of  salvation,  and  would  not  accept  of  it, 
would  still  be  kept  in  bondage  to  their  sins.  And  who- 
soever heard  the  word  and  received  it,  and  obeyed, 
God  would  loosen  them  from  their  sins,  through  any 
of  the  apostles,  or  any  other  true  servant  of  God,  that 
faithfully  teaches  or  preaches  the  word,  and  brings  sin- 
ners to  true  repentance  before  God.  The  same  keys 
that  locked  the  gate  of  the  garden  of  Eden,  when  God 
drove  Adam  and  Eve  from  his  presence  the  Cherubim 
and  the  sword  (or  the  spirit  and  the  word),  are  the  same 
that  has  locked  every  sinful  man  and  woman  from  the 
father's  presence  and  home,  but  not  out  from  the 
father's  love  and  mercy,  and  those  same  keys  must 
open  the  gate  of  heaven  to  let  us  into  the  father's  pres- 
ence again. 

Now,  Satan  used  the  spiritual  blindness  of  the  peo- 
ple of  that  age  to  make  them  believe  Peter  was  the  rock 
that  the  church  was  to  be  built  upon.  And  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  Church  was  built  on  Peter  as  the  rock, 
with  human  man  put  over  it  as  its  infallible  head.  It 
was  built  in  spiritual  blindness,  and  Satan  has  kept  it 
in  spiritual  blindness  from  that  age  until  in  the  present 
age  Satan  holds  sway  over  the  most  powerful  church 
in  the  world.  I  am  not  speaking  of  the  people,  for  Sa- 
tan has  his  spiritually  blinded  people  in  every  church, 


420  The  Spirit  Father 

but  I  am  speaking  of  the  subtility  of  Satan  founding 
his  church  on  the  words  Jesus  spoke  to  Peter;  it  shows 
us  how  Satan  can  take  the  scriptures  and  use  it  for  his 
own  purposes.  But  God  in  his  love  and  mercy  is 
opening  the  eyes  and  hearts  of  thousands  of  his  chil- 
dren, and  may  the  work  continue  until  every  child  of 
God's  is  out  of  the  bondage  of  Satan. 

Do  we  understand  the  difference,  when  we  read  of 
the  foundatioa  and  then  the  corner-stone?  Christ 
spoken  of  as  the  foundation  is  from  the  spiritual  side, 
the  rock  of  truth,  the  word  of  God.  Christ  as  the  cor- 
ner-stone is  in  reference  to  his  human  body ;  the  body 
of  Christ  was  the  first  living  stone;  the  chief  corner- 
stone of  the  church  of  the  living  God.  And  every 
stone  (that  is,  every  body,  for  it  is  the  human  body 
that  is  spoken  of  as  the  stones)  must  become  a  spiritual 
body,  and  belong  to  God,  before  you  can  be  a  stone  of 
that  church.  We  may  belong  to  any  other  church  in 
the  world,  and  not  be  a  living  stone;  but  we  cannot  be 
a  stone  in  the  church  of  the  living  God  unless  we  have 
received  our  spiritual  birth. 

Brothers  and  sisters,  why  will  you  roam 
Away  from  your  Spirit  Father's  home? 
He  the  fatal  cause  demands 
And  asks  the  work  of  His  own  hands. 

Brothers  and  sisters,  why  will  ye  stay 
Away  from  His  home  another  day? 
First  repent  and  then  obey 
And  Christ  will  lead  you  on  your  way. 

Brothers  and  sisters,  why  will  ye  die? 
Your  Spirit  Father  asks  ye  why? 
He  the  fatal  cause  demands 
And  asks  the  work  of  His  own  hand*. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 


ONCE   FOR  ALL. 


Once  for  all — three  words,  but  do  we  understand, 
dear  reader,  what  they  mean  to  us  when  we  read  them 
from  the  word  of  God? 

When  our  spirit  father  made  the  new  covenant 
and  sent  Jesus  with  his  message,  that  was  the  last 
covenant  or  message  he  was  going  to  send  to  the  human 
race;  he  had  then  made  his  will,  conditions,  and  com- 
mands known  for  all  time  and  into  eternity,  and  that 
message  was  never  to  be  changed. 

Jesus  gave  the  message  in  all  its  fullness  and  taught 
everything  we  had  to  do,  both  by  word  of  mouth  and 
example  while  he  was  on  earth;  and  that  message  has 
been  carried  down  nearly  nineteen  centuries  and  will  be 
the  same  to  the  end  of  the  ages.  The  father's  decree 
had  gone  forth  once  for  all. 

Jesus  conquered  Satan  and  overcame  death  once  for 
all.  How  many  are  there  in  the  world  who  are  looking 
forward  to  death  and  the  grave  to  give  them  a  release 
from  some  worldly  troubles  and  sorrows!  They  think: 
"Oh,  well,  it  cannot  be  long  now,"  after  they  have  lived 
forty  or  fifty  years,  some  in  sin,  some  in  sickness,  some 
in  sorrow,  and  they  are  all  tired  of  life.  Some  are  shut 
up  in  our  prisons  as  long  as  their  earthly  life  will  last; 
others  banished  from  their  parents'  home  for  disobe- 
dience and  evil  living;  wives  separated  from  their  hus- 

421 


422  The  Spirit  Father 

bands  and  families;  husbands  separated  from    their 

wives  and  families;  living  their  lives  of  wretchedness, 

not  caring  how  soon  death  would  come  to  release  them. 

Death  to  their  flesh  will  come,  as  it  must  to  all,  and 

their  bodies  will  be  laid  in  their  graves,  once  for  all ;  but 

how  long  they  will  rest  from  their  misery  only  God  the 

father  knows.     But  the  grave  cannot  hold  them,  for 

Jesus  opened  the  grave,  once  for  all.     All  human  flesh 

must  come  forth  from  the  grave  at  the   command  of 

God,  and  that  will  be  once  for  all.     There  will   be  no 

more  release  from  sorrow  or  misery  in  the  grave  after 

that. 

For  servants,  masters,  small  and  great 

Partake  the  same  repose; 
And  will  in  peace  and  ashes  mix 

With  those  who  once  were  foes. 

All  leveled  by  the  hand  of  death 

Lie  sleeping  in  the  tomb; 
Till  God  in  judgment  calls  them  forth 

To  meet  their  final  doom. 

The  grave  must  give  up  its  dead,  no  matter  whether 
they  sought  release  from  their  earthly  troubles  in 
the  grave  or  not.  That  is  the  question  dear  brother 
or  sister,  whoever  you  may  be — our  final  doom,  what 
will  it  be?  We  cannot  look  forward  for  death  to  bring 
us  a  release.  No,  when  we  stand  at  the  judgment 
seat,  as  we  must  at  that  day,  we  will  receive  our  final 
doom  once  for  all. 

Some  may  think  it  is  only  those  that  are  redeemed 
or  saved  that  will  be  clothed  in  immortal  flesh  at  the 
judgment  day,  but  all  at  that  day,  redeemed  and  un- 
redeemed, will  be  clothed  in  their  immortal  garments. 

The  unredeemed  will  go  to  their  everlasting  home  of 
misery  and  wretchedness. 


Once  for  All  423 

Their  doom  is  sealed  once  for  all. 

They  may  weep  and  bewail  their  lot,  and  gnash 
their  teeth,  but  that  will  not  change  their  doom. 

What  God,  our  father,  in  his  love  and  mercy,  may 
do  to  help  save  his  children  out  of  Satan's  hands 
and  their  terrible  doom,  before  that  day,  no  one  but 
the  father  knows;  but  after  that  day  God  cannot 
help  us  nor  change  our  doom,  for  his  own  word  has 
pronounced  our  doom  unchangeable. 

Dear  reader,  do  not  neglect  your  soul's  salvation 
whatever  else  you  may  neglect.  Do  not  lose  your 
soul. 

What  will  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his  soul? 
Look  after  it  to-day,  to-morrow  may  be  too  late, 
your  doom  may  be  sealed.  If  you  stand  at  the  judg- 
ment seat  one  of  the  redeemed,  you  will  be  clothed 
in  the  image  of  your  God  and  Savior — the  image  of 
Christ,  a  perfect  man,  and  the  image  of  your  God 
and  father  in  perfect  purity.  But  if  you  stand  there 
one  of  the  unredeemed,  whose  image  will  you  be 
clothed  in?  The  image  of  Satan,  you  will  belong  to 
him.  Search  the  Bible,  and  pray  God  to  open  your 
spiritual  eyes  and  understanding,  and  do  not  rest 
until  you  have  gone  to  your  God  and  father  in  true 
repentance.  Give  yourself  to  him,  spirit,  soul  and 
body,  that  you  may  stand  at  the  judgment  seat  one 
of  the  redeemed  is  the  prayer  of  your  friend. 

Seek  a  perfect  salvation, 

Oh,  hear  His  sweet  call; 
Come,  and  He  will  save  you 

Once  for  all. 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

NOTES    FROM    THE    AUTHOR. 

If  I  were  to  write  the  full  light  given  me  from  revela- 
tion and  spiritual  interpretation  for  the  writing  of 
this  book,  I  might  write  volumes.  But  when  God 
gives  a  revelation  he  gives  the  wisdom,  as  to  how 
much  is  for  their  own  use,  and  how  much  for  the  work 
he  has  chosen  them  for.  And  then  guides  them  by 
the  spirit's  teachings. 

I  believe  when  God  gives  a  revelation  or  message 
to  anyone,  it  is  to  give  them  a  perfect  assurance  that 
the  work  is  of  God,  and  they  have  no  doubt  about 
it.  He  has  revealed  enough  to  give  them  every  con- 
fidence. All  fear  is  taken  away  and  they  do  the 
work  as  God  leads  them,  fearless  of  consequences. 
But  God  will  prepare  many  of  his  children  to  receive 
revelations,  for  one  revelation  will  precede  another 
until  the  great  revelation  takes  place,  and  God's 
mysteries  will  be  mysteries  no  more.  God  will  pre- 
pare his  children  by  giving  them  spiritual  light  and 
understanding,  bit  by  bit,  until  they  are  fully  prepared. 
God's  offer  of  spiritual  light  and  understanding  is 
the  father's  gift  to  every  child,  but  he  cannot  give 
it  to  those  who  will  not  receive  it  on  his  own  conditions. 
So  many  think  they  know  all  they  need  to  know,  and 
they  do  not  want  to  know  more,  then  God  cannot 

424 


Notes  from  the  Author  425 

teach  them ,  God  can  only  teach  those  that  are  search- 
ing for  light. 

Many  are  teaching  and  preaching  that  they  are 
daily  looking  for  the  second  coming  of  Christ,  that 
he  may  come  any  time.  I  do  not  think  they  are 
looking  around  the  world  seeing  the  spiritually  blinded 
condition  the  majority  of  God's  children  are  in;  when 
I  say  God's  children  I  mean  the  whole  human  race. 
Christ  will  not  come  back  at  the  call  of  a  few  people, 
gathered  here  and  there  throughout  the  world,  calling 
themselves  the  sanctified,  believing  themselves  to 
be  the  holiest  people  on  earth,  and  that  they  are  ready 
and  waiting  for  the  coming  of  Christ. 

Why,  the  world  is  no  more  fit  in  its  spiritual  blind- 
ness to-day  for  Christ  to  take  up  his  personal  reign 
than  it  was  nineteen  centuries  ago,  when  the  Jews 
crucified  him  through  their  spiritual  blindness.  There 
are  millions  in  the  world  to-day  just  as  ready  to  work 
for  Satan  as  were  the  Jews,  and  would  be  just  as  willing 
to  crucifiy  him.  But  Jesus  is  not  coming  to  call 
people  to  repent  or  to  evangelize  the  world.  That 
has  to  be  done  before  he  comes,  and  his  kingdom  won 
and  ready  for  him  to  take  up  his  reign  as  king  of  the 
universe. 

But  Christ  will  first  have  a  spiritual  reign  that  will 
precede  his  personal  reign;  and  the  greatest  wars 
that  have  ever  been  fought  in  the  world  will  be  fought 
under  the  spiritual  reign  of  Christ.  The  spiritual 
reign  of  Christ  has  been  going  on  ever  since  he'^was 
taken  up  to  heaven,  but  the  final  battles  of  that  reign 
have  yet  to  take  place. 


426  The  Spirit  Father 

Many  think  that  the  wars  that  have  been  going 
on  between  nations  in  the  past  few  years  are  some 
of  the  signs  of  the  times.  The  Old  Testament 
wars  are  the  devil's  wars  Nation  fighting  against 
nation  for  earthly  possessions,  things  of  the  earth, 
earthy. 

But  the  New  Testament  wars  are  spiritual  wars, 
and  are  to  be  fought  with  spiritual  weapons.  If 
we  knew  God,  in  his  love  and  mercy,  and  would  use 
our  common  sense,  we  would  know  that  God  never 
created  his  human  creatures  or  any  of  his  creatures 
to  be  hewn  down  by  cannon  balls  or  any  other  instru- 
ment invented  by  man.  Nations  cannot  be  won 
for  God  in  that  way.  Christ's  kingdom  cannot  be 
won  for  him  on  that  kind  of  war.  The  kingdom's 
to  be  won  for  Christ  are  the  hearts  of  men  and  women, 
and  they  must  be  overcome  and  won  \vith  the  weapons 
of  God,  the  spiritual  sword  (the  word  of  God)  and 
the  spirit;  but  they  have  to  be  tempered  with  love 
to  be  powerful.  And  when  the  kindgoms  are  won 
for  Christ  the  nations  will  soon  be  won  for  God. 

Under  the  old  covenant,  when  God  was  at  war 
with  the  enemies  of  his  people,  he  told  them  to  beat 
their  plowshares  into  swords,  and  their  pruning  hooks 
into  spears.  But  under  the  new  covenant  he  told 
them  to  beat  their  swords  into  plowshares,  and  their 
spears  into  pruning  hooks.  For  nation  shall  not  lift 
up  the  sword  against  nation,  neither  shall  they  learn 
war  any  more. 

Do  we  understand  what  the  pruning  hooks  spoken 
of  here  were  to  be  used  for? 


Notes  from  the  Author  427 

'  They  werfe  to  be' used  to  prune  the  garden  of  the 
Lord  (the  world)  the  unfruitful  branches  were  to  be 
cut  away  and  gathered  up  and  thrown  out;  and  the 
fruitful  branches  will  be  left  to  grow  in  the  garden. 
Christ  th£  vine,  and  the  people  the  branches.  God 
is  not  going  to  destroy  the  world  again,  and  create 
a  new  world;  he  is  going  to  cleanse  the  world,  that  is, 
cleanse  the  people.  But  cleansing  the  people  and 
winning  them  to  God,  is  not  killing  and  mowing  them 
down  like- grass. 

For  whether  they  are  Boers  or  Spaniards,  black 
or  white,  they  are  all  God's  creatures.  I  believe  all 
such  wars  will  cease,  and  the  greatest  wars  that  have 
ever  been  fought,  will  be  fought  with  spiritual  weapons. 

As  the  Roman  sword  that  was  driven  into  the  heart 
of  Christ,  when  he  was  upon  the  cross,  is  symbolical 
of  the  sword  of  God  (his  word)  to  be  driven  into  the 
hearts  of  men  and  women;  but  God  commanded  that 
not  one  bone  should  be  broken. 

When  Simon  told  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus,  that 
a  sword  would  pierce  through  her  soul,  it  was  the 
word  of  God  that  was  to  pierce  her  breast,  that  she 
might  receive  spiritual  light,  and  understand  all  things, 
and  why  her  son  should  suffer,  and  it  would  give  her 
strength  to  bear  up  under  his  sufferings,  for  his  mother 
followed  him  to  the  cross.  And  we  must  remember 
Mary  was  brought  up  under  the  old  covenant,  and 
had  not  the  Ught  of  the  new  covenant  teachings.  Oh, 
may  God  bring  his  people  to  seek  spiritual  light, 
wisdom,  and  understanding  before  all  the  wealth 
of  the  world,  or  all  the  world  can  give  them,  and  seek 


428  The  Spirit  Father 

it  to-day,  for  to-morrow  their  eyes  may  be  closed 
in  spiritual  darkness  forever. 

When  like  a  stranger  on  our  sphere, 

The  lowly  Jesus  sojourned  here; 
Where'er  He  went  affliction  fled 

And  sickness  reared  her  drooping  head. 

The  eye  that  rolled  in  darksome  night 
Beheld  His  face,  for  He  was  light; 

The  opened  ear,  the  loosened  tongue, 
His  precepts  heard  and  praises  sung. 

With  bounding  steps,  the  halt  and  lame 
To  hail  their  Great  Deliverer  came. 

O'er  the  cold  grave  He  bowed  His  head; 
He  spoke  the  word  and  raised  the  dead. 

Demonical  madness,  dark  and  wild, 

In  His  inspiring  presence  smiled; 
The  storm  of  horror  ceased  to  roll 

And  reason  lightened  through  the  8<Jul. 

And   he  is  just   the  same  today. 


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